Legal Definitions - necessitous

Necessitous

Necessitous describes a person or entity experiencing severe financial hardship, lacking the basic resources required for a reasonable standard of living, such as food, shelter, or essential medical care.

Here are some examples illustrating the term:

• After a sudden job loss and a prolonged illness, Mr. Henderson found himself unable to pay his rent or purchase groceries. His bank account was empty, and he had no family support to rely on.

  This situation illustrates Mr. Henderson being necessitous because he is in a state of extreme financial want, unable to afford basic necessities like housing and food.

• A single parent, working multiple part-time jobs, struggled to provide adequate clothing and nutritious meals for her three children, especially after an unexpected car repair depleted her meager savings. She often had to choose between paying for utilities and buying school supplies.

  This example demonstrates a necessitous household, as the parent is experiencing severe financial hardship, making it difficult to meet the fundamental needs of her children and maintain a reasonable standard of living.

• Following a devastating flood, a small rural community lost its primary agricultural income, and many residents' homes were destroyed. Without immediate aid, families faced widespread hunger and homelessness.

  This community is considered necessitous because its members collectively face extreme want and lack essential resources like food and shelter due to an unforeseen disaster, highlighting a collective state of severe hardship.