Legal Definitions - compos sui

Compos Sui

Compos sui is a Latin legal term that describes a person's physical ability to control their own body and movements. It refers to an individual having command over their limbs and the capacity to perform voluntary bodily actions.

Here are some examples illustrating the application of compos sui:

• Signing a Legal Document: When an individual needs to sign a contract, a will, or any other legal document, they must be compos sui. This means they possess the physical capacity to hold a pen, control their hand and arm, and make the necessary marks to execute their signature. Without this physical control, the act of signing would be impossible.

• Participating in a Deposition: A witness giving testimony under oath in a deposition must be compos sui. This refers to their physical ability to sit upright, raise their hand to affirm the oath, and potentially gesture or point to exhibits as part of their testimony. It highlights the physical capacity required to actively participate in the legal process.

• Physically Presenting Evidence in Court: In a personal injury case, a plaintiff might need to demonstrate to a jury the physical limitations caused by an injury. For instance, if they attempt to show their inability to lift an arm above a certain height, they are exercising their remaining physical control. The very act of attempting this demonstration, even if it highlights a limitation, relies on their capacity to initiate and control some bodily movements, thereby illustrating the concept of being compos sui in the context of physical action.