Legal Definitions - natus

Natus is a Latin term used in legal contexts to describe someone who has been born and is alive. It specifically refers to the state of being born, often emphasizing that a child has come into existence and is living, which can be critical for establishing legal rights, status, or eligibility.

• Example 1: Inheritance and Wills

  A wealthy individual's will specifies that a portion of their estate is to be divided equally among "all nieces and nephews natus at the time of my death."

  Explanation: This clause means that only nieces and nephews who have already been born and are alive when the will-maker passes away will be eligible to inherit. A niece or nephew who was conceived but not yet born at that specific moment would not qualify under this particular wording.

• Example 2: Citizenship and Nationality Laws

  A nation's immigration statute declares that any individual natus within its sovereign territory automatically acquires citizenship, regardless of their parents' nationality.

  Explanation: This provision establishes "birthright citizenship" (also known as jus soli), meaning that the simple fact of being born alive within the country's physical borders confers citizenship, granting the individual all the rights and responsibilities associated with being a national.

• Example 3: Legal Personhood and Rights

  In a medical malpractice case, the legal team argued that for a child to have a claim for certain injuries sustained during delivery, the child must have been considered natus, meaning born alive, at the moment the injury occurred.

  Explanation: This demonstrates how the term is crucial in defining when a human being gains full legal recognition and rights, such as the ability to be a plaintiff in a lawsuit or have a claim brought on their behalf. Legal personhood for many rights typically commences upon being born alive.