Legal Definitions - absolute

In legal terms, absolute describes something that is complete, final, and without any conditions, restrictions, or limitations. When a legal concept is described as absolute, it means it is definitive and cannot be altered or challenged, or that a right or ownership is full and unrestricted.

• Example 1: Property Ownership

  Imagine someone purchases a vintage car and receives absolute ownership of it. This means they own the car entirely, without any outstanding liens, shared ownership claims, or conditions imposed by the previous seller. They have the unrestricted right to sell it, modify it, or even dismantle it, as long as they comply with general laws, because their ownership is complete and unconditional.

  This illustrates "absolute" because the ownership is final and free from any limitations or qualifications from previous owners or other parties.

• Example 2: Divorce Proceedings

  A couple goes through a divorce, and the court issues an absolute divorce decree. This legal document signifies that their marriage is completely and finally dissolved. Both individuals are legally single, free to remarry, and all marital rights and obligations, such as spousal support and property division, have been definitively settled and cannot typically be reopened or challenged later, barring specific legal grounds like fraud.

  Here, "absolute" emphasizes the finality of the judgment, meaning the marriage is conclusively ended with no remaining legal ties or conditions related to the marital status itself.

• Example 3: Contractual Guarantee

  A software company offers an absolute guarantee that their new program will be compatible with all major operating systems. This means they are making an unconditional promise that the software will work as stated, without any hidden clauses or requirements for the user to perform specific actions to ensure compatibility. If it fails to work on a major operating system, the company is fully liable to fulfill their guarantee, perhaps by offering a full refund or a fix, because their promise was without limitation.

  This example demonstrates "absolute" by highlighting a promise or condition that is unconditional and without any hidden restrictions or qualifications.