Legal Definitions - in rerum natura

in rerum natura

This Latin phrase translates to "in the nature of things" or, more commonly in a legal context, "in existence" or "real." It refers to something having a tangible, verifiable presence or reality.

Historically, this term was used in legal arguments to assert that a person or entity claimed to be involved in a lawsuit did not actually exist, and therefore could not participate in legal proceedings.

Here are some examples illustrating its meaning:

• A Fictitious Plaintiff: Imagine a lawsuit filed by "The Society for Invisible Unicorns." The defendant's legal team investigates and discovers that no such organization is registered, has ever operated, or has any verifiable members or assets. The defendant could argue that "The Society for Invisible Unicorns" does not exist in rerum natura, meaning it is not a real entity capable of bringing a lawsuit.

• Non-Existent Property: Consider a situation where a property deed describes a parcel of land using coordinates that, upon surveying, are found to correspond to no actual physical plot on any map or in reality. A buyer might argue that the property, as described, does not exist in rerum natura, making the contract for sale impossible to fulfill because the subject matter is not real.

• An Unfounded Claim: A company claims to have developed a revolutionary new energy source that defies all known laws of physics and has no demonstrable prototype or scientific basis. A regulatory body investigating this claim might conclude that the "revolutionary energy source" does not exist in rerum natura, meaning it lacks any real-world presence or scientific validity beyond mere assertion.