Legal Definitions - intra parietes

intra parietes

The Latin phrase intra parietes literally translates to "within one's own walls." In a legal context, it refers to matters that are handled or resolved privately, internally, or confidentially, without involving external public processes like a court case.

Historically, this term was often used to describe disputes or issues that were settled out of court, emphasizing that the resolution occurred privately among the parties involved, away from public scrutiny.

Here are some examples to illustrate this concept:

• Example 1: Business Partnership Dispute
  Two business partners have a significant disagreement over the direction of their company and the division of profits. Instead of filing a lawsuit against each other, they decide to engage a private mediator. They hold several confidential meetings in their company's conference room, eventually reaching a mutually agreeable settlement that is documented in a private contract. This resolution is considered intra parietes because the dispute was settled privately, within the "walls" of their business relationship, without public court intervention.

• Example 2: University Disciplinary Action
  A university receives a complaint about a student's academic misconduct. The university's disciplinary committee investigates the matter, holds private hearings with the student and relevant faculty, and ultimately decides on a penalty. The entire process, from investigation to resolution, is kept confidential within the university's administrative structure and does not become a public legal case. This internal handling of the complaint is an example of an intra parietes resolution.

• Example 3: Family Estate Settlement
  After the passing of a family patriarch, there is a minor dispute among the heirs regarding the distribution of certain personal belongings not explicitly mentioned in the will. Rather than initiating probate litigation, the family members, with the help of their respective attorneys, hold a series of private discussions at a family home. They agree on a fair division and sign a private agreement. This private resolution of the estate matter, kept within the family, is an instance of handling affairs intra parietes.