Legal Definitions - null

In legal terms, null describes something that has no legal validity or binding force. It means that, in the eyes of the law, the action, document, or agreement never truly existed or had any legal effect from its inception.

Here are some examples to illustrate this concept:

• Example 1: An Agreement Made Under Duress

  Imagine a situation where someone is forced, under threat of harm, to sign a document agreeing to sell their property for a ridiculously low price. If it can be proven that the person signed the agreement under such extreme pressure, a court would likely declare that agreement to be null. This means the agreement has no legal standing, the property sale cannot be enforced, and it's as if the signature never happened because it wasn't given freely and voluntarily.

• Example 2: A Law Passed Unconstitutionally

  Suppose a state legislature passes a new law that directly violates a fundamental right protected by the U.S. Constitution. If this law is challenged in court and a judge rules that it is unconstitutional, the law would be declared null. This means the law has no legal force or effect; it cannot be enforced by the state, and citizens are not obligated to follow it, as if it was never enacted in the first place.

• Example 3: A Marriage to a Person Already Married

  If a person enters into a marriage ceremony with someone who is already legally married to another individual (and has not divorced), the second marriage would be considered null. Because bigamy is illegal, the law does not recognize the second marriage as valid. It has no legal effect, and the parties involved are not legally considered spouses under that second ceremony.