Legal Definitions - dorsum

Dorsum is a historical legal term that means "the back." In legal contexts, it was most commonly encountered as part of the phrase in dorso, which literally translates to "on the back." This phrase was used to indicate that a legal document or instrument had a notation, signature, or endorsement placed on its reverse side.

• Example 1: Historical Property Deed

  Imagine an 18th-century property deed that formally transferred ownership of a parcel of land. If the original owner later sold a portion of that land to a different party, instead of creating an entirely new deed, a brief note detailing the partial sale, the new owner, and the date might have been written directly on the reverse side of the original deed.

  This notation would have been referred to as being made in dorso of the deed, meaning it was inscribed on the back of the document to record a subsequent transaction related to the property.

• Example 2: Ancient Court Summons

  Consider an old legal practice where a sheriff or bailiff was tasked with delivering a court summons to an individual. After successfully serving the document, the officer would often write a brief statement confirming the service—including details like who was served, when, and where—directly on the back of the original summons before returning it to the court.

  This official confirmation of service, known as a "return of service," would have been described as being recorded in dorso of the summons, signifying that the information was placed on the document's reverse side for official record-keeping.