Legal Definitions - datio

Datio

Originating from Roman law, datio refers to either a formal act of giving or a specific appointment to a role or position.

• Example 1: Transfer of Assets
  A philanthropist decides to establish a new charitable foundation and formally transfers a substantial portfolio of stocks and bonds into the foundation's ownership. This official act of transferring these financial assets from the individual to the foundation is a datio.

  Explanation: This illustrates datio as a formal act of giving, specifically the transfer of ownership of valuable assets to another entity.

• Example 2: Granting of Authority
  A city council passes a resolution formally empowering a specific committee to negotiate a new contract with a waste management company. The act of officially granting this negotiating authority to the committee is a datio.

  Explanation: Here, datio signifies the formal act of giving or bestowing a specific power or authority to a group or individual.

• Example 3: Judicial Assignment
  In a complex legal case involving a minor, a judge formally designates an independent attorney to represent the child's best interests in court. This official assignment of the attorney to act on behalf of the child is a datio.

  Explanation: This example demonstrates datio in the sense of a formal appointment, where a person is legally designated to fulfill a specific role or responsibility.