Legal Definitions - obiit

Obiit is a Latin term that translates to "he died" or "she died." It is historically used in legal documents, genealogical records, and inscriptions to formally denote the date of a person's death.

Here are some examples of how "obiit" might be used:

• Example 1: Genealogical Research
  Imagine a historian researching a family lineage who finds an old parish register entry stating, "Eleanor Vance obiit 14th April 1789."

  This entry clearly indicates that Eleanor Vance passed away on April 14, 1789, providing a precise date for her death in the historical record.

• Example 2: Historical Legal Documents
  Consider an ancient will or deed of trust that includes a clause like, "Should Beneficiary Thomas obiit before reaching the age of majority, then his share shall revert to the estate."

  In this context, the clause specifies a condition: if Beneficiary Thomas dies before he becomes an adult, his inheritance will not be distributed to him but will instead return to the main body of the estate.

• Example 3: Monumental Inscriptions
  When visiting an old cemetery, you might encounter a weathered tombstone with an inscription such as, "Sir Reginald Fitzwilliam, Knight. Obiit MDCCCXXIII."

  This inscription uses "obiit" to mark the year of Sir Reginald Fitzwilliam's death, which is 1823 (MDCCCXXIII in Roman numerals), serving as a formal record of his passing on his memorial.