Legal Definitions - non entia

Non entia is a historical legal term derived from Latin, referring to things that do not exist or are considered nonentities. In legal contexts, it describes something that lacks actual existence or legal standing, often because it was never properly created, has ceased to be, or is fundamentally impossible.

Here are some examples to illustrate this concept:

• Imagine a group of individuals claiming to be a legally incorporated company and attempting to enter into contracts. If a search of government records reveals that this company was never officially registered with the state, it would be considered a non entia in the eyes of the law. The company, despite the individuals' claims, legally does not exist as a separate entity and therefore lacks the capacity to enter into binding agreements.

• Consider a contract where one party agrees to sell "the rights to a piece of land on the moon" to another party. Since no private individual or entity currently holds legal title to land on the moon under international law, the subject matter of this contract is a non entia. The item being bought and sold does not legally exist as a transferable private property right, rendering the core of the agreement a nonentity.

• Suppose a person files a lawsuit alleging damages from a car accident that, upon thorough investigation, is proven to have never actually happened. The entire basis of their claim – the accident itself – would be considered a non entia. The foundational event on which the legal action is built is demonstrably non-existent, making the claim itself based on a nonentity.