Legal Definitions - exitus

Exitus is a historical legal term derived from Latin, with several distinct meanings primarily found in older legal texts and historical contexts.

• 1. Children; Offspring

  In some historical contexts, exitus referred to a person's direct descendants or progeny.

  • Example: A 17th-century will might have stipulated that a family estate would pass to "all lawful exitus" of the testator, meaning all their legitimate children and subsequent generations.

    Explanation: Here, exitus is used to denote the testator's direct bloodline, ensuring the inheritance follows their lineage.

• 2. Rents, Issues, and Profits of Lands and Tenements

  Historically, exitus could also refer to the income or proceeds generated from land or property. This included rents collected from tenants, profits from agricultural produce, or other financial benefits derived from owning real estate.

  • Example: A medieval manor lord's financial records might detail the "annual exitus" from his various agricultural holdings, encompassing the grain harvested, livestock sold, and rents paid by serfs.

    Explanation: In this context, exitus represents the total economic output and income generated by the lord's land and property.

• 3. An Export Duty

  In historical trade and customs law, exitus sometimes referred to a tax or duty levied on goods being exported from a country or region.

  • Example: A 16th-century royal decree might have imposed an "exitus on all raw wool" leaving English ports, aiming to encourage domestic manufacturing.

    Explanation: This usage illustrates exitus as a specific type of tariff or tax applied to goods as they departed the country, intended to regulate trade.

• 4. The Conclusion of a Pleading

  In older legal procedure, exitus could denote the final part or conclusion of a formal legal statement or "pleading" made in court. This was often where a party would formally state their final position or request a specific judgment.

  • Example: A legal historian analyzing a 15th-century court transcript might refer to the "exitus of the defendant's plea," meaning the final argument or request presented by the defendant to the court.

    Explanation: Here, exitus signifies the definitive end or resolution point of a formal legal argument or statement within a judicial proceeding.