Legal Definitions - nul

The term nul is a legal particle derived from Law French, meaning no or none. It is often found at the beginning of various legal phrases to negate or deny the existence of something.

Here are a few examples illustrating the use and meaning of nul in legal contexts:

• Nul Tort

  Imagine a situation where a person is accused of causing harm to another. If the accused party argues that their actions did not result in any injury or wrongdoing, they might historically assert "nul tort."

  This phrase uses nul to mean "no" or "none," indicating that no wrong or injury was committed or sustained.

• Nul Disseisin

  Consider a dispute over land ownership from centuries ago. If one party claimed they were unlawfully dispossessed of their property, the opposing party might counter with "nul disseisin," arguing that no such unlawful removal or taking of possession ever occurred.

  In this context, nul signifies "no" or "none," asserting that there was no wrongful dispossession of land.

• Nul Record

  During a court hearing, if one attorney claims that a specific prior judgment or official court document exists, the opposing attorney might challenge this by stating "nul record" if they believe no such official record was ever created or can be found in the court's archives.

  Here, nul clearly means "no" or "none," indicating the absence of an official court record or document.