Legal Definitions - inter virum et uxorem

The Latin phrase inter virum et uxorem translates to "between husband and wife." In legal contexts, this term refers to situations, relationships, or transactions that specifically involve a married couple.

• Example 1: Property Ownership

  Imagine a married couple, David and Maria, purchasing a piece of land together. The legal deed for the property might specify that the ownership is held inter virum et uxorem. This indicates that the property is jointly owned by them specifically in their capacity as a married couple, which can have particular legal implications for how the property is managed, sold, or inherited, distinct from ownership by two unrelated individuals.

• Example 2: Spousal Privilege

  In a court case, there's a legal concept known as spousal privilege, which generally prevents one spouse from being forced to testify against the other or from revealing confidential communications made during their marriage. This privilege exists inter virum et uxorem, meaning it is a protection that applies specifically to the relationship and interactions *between* a husband and wife, aiming to preserve marital harmony and trust.

• Example 3: Marital Agreements

  Consider a situation where a husband and wife, Sarah and John, enter into a private agreement during their marriage about how they will manage their shared finances or divide certain responsibilities. While not always legally binding in the same way as a formal contract with a third party, such an agreement is made inter virum et uxorem. If their marriage later dissolves, a court might examine these "between husband and wife" agreements to understand their intentions regarding assets or support, even if they weren't formalized as a prenuptial or postnuptial agreement.