Legal Definitions - annus continuus

Annus continuus refers to a continuous, unbroken period of one year, calculated without any interruptions or pauses. It signifies a straight 365-day duration, where the count proceeds consecutively regardless of weekends, holidays, or other events that might otherwise stop a clock or create a break in a different type of calculation.

Here are some examples to illustrate this concept:

• Statute of Limitations: Imagine a law stating that a person has one annus continuus from the date they discover a product defect to file a lawsuit. This means they have exactly 365 consecutive days, including all weekends and public holidays, to initiate legal action. The clock does not pause for any reason; it's a continuous, unbroken count from the start date to the end date.

• Contractual Performance: A construction contract might require a subcontractor to maintain a continuous presence on a job site for an annus continuus to meet a specific project milestone. This implies that the subcontractor's team must be actively working or present on the site for the entire 365-day period without significant breaks or periods of absence that would interrupt the continuity of their work, even if the main contractor's operations pause for a holiday season.

• Residency Requirements: In some immigration contexts, a country might require an applicant to demonstrate continuous residency within its borders for an annus continuus to be eligible for certain benefits or permanent status. This means the applicant must not have left the country for any extended period that would break the unbroken chain of their physical presence during that specific 365-day span. Short, approved absences might be permitted, but the core principle is an uninterrupted year of residence.