Legal Definitions - absente

Absente means in the absence of. It is a Latin term used in formal contexts, particularly legal or official records, to indicate that a specific person was not present during an event, decision, or proceeding.

• Example 1: Corporate Board Meeting Minutes

  Imagine a company's board of directors is voting on a major acquisition. The official minutes of the meeting might state: "The Board unanimously approved the acquisition of Tech Innovations, absente Director Chen, who was on sabbatical."

  Explanation: This use of "absente" formally notes that Director Chen was not present when the vote took place, ensuring the record accurately reflects who participated in the decision.

• Example 2: Court Order

  In a family law case, a judge might issue an order regarding child visitation. The order could include a clause like: "The temporary visitation schedule was established, absente the respondent, who had been duly notified but failed to appear."

  Explanation: Here, "absente" clarifies that the respondent (one of the parties in the case) was not in court when the judge made the decision, despite having received proper notice to attend.

• Example 3: Legislative Record

  When a legislative body, such as a city council or parliament, takes a vote on a new ordinance or bill, the official record might specify the attendance. For instance: "The proposed zoning amendment passed by a vote of 7-2, absente Councilwoman Davies, who was attending a national conference."

  Explanation: This indicates that Councilwoman Davies was not physically present for the vote on the zoning amendment, providing a complete account of the voting participants.