Legal Definitions - ad voluntatem

Ad voluntatem is a Latin legal phrase that translates to "at will." It describes a legal relationship, agreement, or status that can be terminated, changed, or revoked by one or both parties at their discretion, often without needing to provide a specific reason or cause.

• Employment Context: In many parts of the world, employment is considered "at-will." This means that an employer can terminate an employee's contract, and an employee can resign, for almost any reason (or no reason at all), as long as it doesn't violate anti-discrimination laws or other specific legal protections. This arrangement is ad voluntatem because the continuation of the employment relationship is subject to the will of either the employer or the employee.

• Tenancy Agreement: A "tenancy at will" (or a tenancy ad voluntatem) arises when a tenant occupies a property with the landlord's permission but without a formal lease that specifies a fixed term. In such a scenario, either the landlord or the tenant can end the tenancy at any time, typically by providing reasonable notice, because the agreement exists purely "at the will" of both parties rather than for a set duration.

• Revocable Trust: When an individual creates a revocable living trust as part of their estate plan, the trust is established ad voluntatem of the grantor (the person who created it). This means the grantor retains the power to amend, modify, or completely revoke the trust at any point during their lifetime. The trust's terms and its very existence are entirely subject to the grantor's will until their death or until they choose to make it irrevocable.