Legal Definitions - accessorial

Accessorial describes something that is secondary or supplementary, providing support, assistance, or an additional obligation related to a primary action, agreement, or crime.

• Example 1 (Contractual Obligation):

  A small business owner seeks a loan from a bank to expand operations. Due to the business's relatively new status, the bank requires the owner to personally guarantee the loan in addition to the business itself being liable.

  Explanation: The owner's personal guarantee is an accessorial promise. It's a secondary obligation that strengthens the primary loan agreement, providing the bank with extra assurance and security beyond the business's own creditworthiness.

• Example 2 (Criminal Law - Before or During a Crime):

  During a planned robbery of a jewelry store, one individual drives the getaway car and waits outside, while another person enters the store to commit the theft.

  Explanation: The driver's actions are accessorial. Although they did not physically enter the store or directly steal the jewelry, their role in providing transportation and facilitating escape directly supported and contributed to the primary crime of robbery.

• Example 3 (Criminal Law - After a Crime):

  After a friend commits a serious assault, another person helps them dispose of the weapon and provides them with a place to hide from the police, knowing about the crime.

  Explanation: Helping to dispose of the weapon and providing a hiding place are accessorial acts. These actions are secondary to the assault itself but are taken to assist the perpetrator in avoiding arrest and prosecution, making the person an accessory after the fact.