Legal Definitions - accresce

Accresce is a verb used in civil law to describe something that grows, increases, or accumulates over time or as a natural consequence of an event. It signifies an addition or an expansion of something already existing, such as rights, property, or obligations.

Here are some examples to illustrate:

• Example 1: Property by Natural Processes

  Imagine a homeowner whose property borders a large lake. Over several decades, natural geological processes cause sediment and soil to gradually deposit along the shoreline, slowly expanding the land area of the homeowner's property into the lake. In this scenario, the newly formed land is said to accresce to the homeowner's existing property. The property's size increases naturally, and the owner's legal rights extend to this additional land.

• Example 2: Financial Obligations

  Consider a situation where a person has an unpaid balance on a credit card. The credit card agreement stipulates that interest will be charged on any outstanding amount. If the balance is not paid in full, the interest on that balance will accresce daily or monthly. This means the total amount owed to the credit card company increases over time as the interest accumulates.

• Example 3: Employee Benefits

  An employee's contract might state that they earn a certain number of sick leave hours for every two weeks they work. As the employee continues their employment, their available sick leave hours accresce. Their entitlement to paid time off for illness increases with each pay period, building up a larger reserve of leave that they can use when needed.