Simple English definitions for legal terms
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Term: ANIMO ET FACTO
Definition: Animo et facto is a Latin phrase that means "by act and intention." It refers to the idea that both a person's actions and their intentions are important in determining certain legal matters. For example, simply living in a place is not enough to establish legal residency; a person must also have the intention of making that place their permanent home.
Definition: Animo et facto (an-uh-moh et fak-toh) is a Latin term that means "by act and intention." It refers to the idea that both the action and the intention behind the action are important in determining the legal or moral consequences of that action.
Example: One example of animo et facto is in the acquisition of a domicile. Simply living in a place is not enough to establish a legal domicile. The person must also have the intention to make that place their permanent home. This means that both the act of living in the place and the intention to make it a permanent home are necessary to establish a domicile animo et facto.
Another example: A person who accidentally hits someone with their car may not be held criminally liable if they did not have the intention to harm the person. However, if the person was driving recklessly or under the influence of drugs or alcohol, their actions may be considered animo et facto, meaning that both their actions and their intention to engage in those actions are taken into account when determining their legal responsibility for the harm caused.
These examples illustrate how animo et facto is used to consider both the act and the intention behind the act when determining legal or moral responsibility.