Legal Definitions - ex directo

Ex directo is a Latin phrase used in legal contexts to mean "directly" or "immediately." It describes something that occurs as a straightforward, unmediated consequence or action, without any intermediate steps, indirect influences, or secondary causes.

Here are some examples to illustrate how "ex directo" is applied:

• Example 1: Contractual Obligation

  Imagine a construction contract that states if the builder fails to complete the foundation by a specific date, the client has the right to *ex directo* terminate the agreement. This means that the client's right to end the contract arises immediately and directly from the builder's failure to meet the deadline, without needing to go through additional negotiation or a separate legal process to establish that right.

• Example 2: Statutory Prohibition

  A new city ordinance might *ex directo* prohibit the use of single-use plastic bags by retail businesses. In this case, the ordinance directly and immediately forbids the action. There's no ambiguity or need for further interpretation to determine if the use of such bags is allowed under certain conditions; the law itself makes the prohibition clear and immediate for all affected businesses.

• Example 3: Legal Consequence of a Ruling

  If a court declares a specific provision within a will to be legally invalid, any property designated by that provision might *ex directo* revert to the deceased's general estate for distribution according to intestacy laws or other general clauses. This signifies that the invalidation of the clause has a direct and immediate effect on the property's disposition, sending it back to the general estate without any further specific instructions or intermediate steps.