Simple English definitions for legal terms
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Term: Nullity
Definition: Nullity means something that is not valid or has no legal power. It is like it never happened. This word is often used when talking about marriages that were not done correctly or were not allowed by law. For example, if a marriage was not done with the right paperwork or if the people getting married were too closely related, the marriage might be a nullity. This means that the marriage is not real and never happened. The word "nullity" can also be used in other situations, like when a person who is not a real lawyer tries to help someone in court. If this happens, any decisions made in that court case might be a nullity, which means they are not real and do not count.
Definition: Something that is void or has no legal force. A nullity may be treated as if it never occurred.
Nullities are commonly found in the context of marriages. For example, if a marriage was not properly licensed, solemnized, and authenticated, it may be considered a nullity. This means that the marriage is not legally recognized and can be treated as if it never happened. Another reason for a nullity of marriage is if the marriage is found to be invalid due to incest or fraud.
However, the term "nullity" is not limited to marriages. In Illinois, the "nullity rule" voids judgments rendered in cases where a person who was not entitled to practice law represented one of the parties. This means that the judgment is not legally valid and can be treated as if it never happened.
Overall, a nullity is something that is considered to have no legal force and can be treated as if it never occurred.