Legal Definitions - intentional

Intentional describes an action or outcome that was performed or brought about on purpose, with a conscious decision or specific aim to achieve that result. It implies that the actor knew what they were doing and desired the particular consequence of their action.

Here are some examples to illustrate this concept:

• Example 1: Criminal Conduct

  A person, angry after an argument, picks up a rock and throws it directly at their neighbor's window, causing it to shatter. This act is considered intentional because the person consciously decided to throw the rock at the window with the specific aim of breaking it.

• Example 2: Contractual Agreement

  A small business owner signs a lease agreement for a new office space. By signing the document, the owner is making an intentional commitment to pay rent and abide by the lease terms. They consciously chose to enter into the agreement, understanding its implications.

• Example 3: Property Damage

  During a renovation project, a homeowner explicitly instructs a contractor to remove a specific wall, knowing that doing so will alter the house's layout. When the contractor removes the wall as directed, this action is intentional because it was a deliberate act carried out with the express purpose of achieving that particular change to the property.