Legal Definitions - liberatio nominis

liberatio nominis is a Latin term from Roman law that refers to the formal act of releasing someone from a financial obligation or debt. Essentially, it signifies that a debt has been fully satisfied or legally extinguished, thereby freeing the debtor from their duty to pay.

Here are a few examples to illustrate this concept:

• Example 1: Mortgage Repayment

  Imagine a homeowner, David, who has been diligently paying his mortgage for thirty years. When he makes his final payment, the bank issues a document confirming that the loan has been paid in full and the lien on his property is released. This final act of payment and the subsequent release of the obligation represent liberatio nominis. David's debt to the bank for the house is completely discharged, and he no longer owes them money for the property.

• Example 2: Business Invoice Settlement

  Consider a small business, "Green Gardens Landscaping," that hires a supplier to deliver a large quantity of plants and materials. The supplier sends an invoice for $5,000. Once Green Gardens Landscaping processes the payment and the supplier confirms receipt of the full amount, the financial obligation for that specific invoice is fulfilled. This payment and the resulting satisfaction of the debt constitute liberatio nominis, as Green Gardens Landscaping is now released from that particular financial duty to the supplier.

• Example 3: Personal Loan Forgiveness

  Suppose a friend, Maria, lent her friend, Alex, $500 to help with an unexpected expense. A few months later, knowing Alex is going through a tough time, Maria decides to tell Alex that she no longer expects the money back and formally forgives the debt. Maria's act of forgiving the loan, effectively canceling Alex's obligation to repay, is an instance of liberatio nominis. Alex is now legally and morally released from the debt.