Legal Definitions - ipso jure

Ipso jure means "by the law itself." It describes a situation where a legal consequence occurs automatically, directly as a result of an existing law or legal principle, without the need for any further action, declaration, or court order from individuals or other parties. The legal effect takes place simply because the conditions set forth in the law have been met.

• Example 1: Void Contracts

  If two parties enter into a contract for a purpose that is inherently illegal, such as an agreement to commit a crime, that contract may be considered void ipso jure in many legal systems. This means the contract is invalid from its inception, not because a court has ruled it so, but because the law itself dictates that agreements for illegal acts cannot be legally binding.

  Explanation: The contract's invalidity doesn't require a judge's declaration or either party's action; it's an automatic legal consequence of its illegal nature, directly imposed "by the law itself."

• Example 2: Automatic Succession to Office

  In some organizations or governmental structures, if a high-ranking official resigns or is incapacitated, the next person in the line of succession might assume the office ipso jure. For instance, if a vice-president's role is to automatically take over the presidency upon the president's death, this transfer of power occurs without any additional vote or formal appointment process.

  Explanation: The new official's assumption of power is not dependent on a specific vote or ceremony, but rather on a pre-existing rule or constitutional provision that automatically confers the office "by the law itself" upon the triggering event.

• Example 3: Corporate Dissolution

  In certain jurisdictions, if a corporation fails to file its mandatory annual reports or pay required fees for a specified number of consecutive years, its corporate charter might be revoked ipso jure. This means the entity ceases to exist as a legal corporation automatically, without the need for a court order or a specific administrative action by the state.

  Explanation: The dissolution of the corporation is a direct and automatic consequence of its prolonged non-compliance with statutory requirements, occurring "by the law itself" rather than through a discretionary decision or judicial process.