Legal Definitions - obsolete

Obsolete describes something that is no longer current, relevant, or widely used. It refers to a standard, practice, law, or item that has been superseded by newer developments, fallen out of common application, or lost its practical utility over time.

• Example 1: A small town in the United States might still have a local ordinance on its books from the early 20th century that requires all public buildings to have a designated hitching post for horses. While this law has never been formally repealed, it is considered obsolete because horses are no longer a primary mode of transportation, and the practical need for such a regulation has vanished with the advent of automobiles.

  Explanation: This example illustrates "obsolete" because the law, though technically still existing, is no longer relevant or enforced due to fundamental changes in society and technology. It has lost its practical purpose and is out-of-date.

• Example 2: In a legal discovery process from the 1990s, lawyers might have requested physical floppy disks containing electronic documents. Today, requesting data on floppy disks would be considered an obsolete method of information exchange. Modern discovery protocols now focus on digital files, cloud storage, and network drives.

  Explanation: This demonstrates "obsolete" in the context of technology and legal procedure. Floppy disks are no longer a standard or practical medium for storing and sharing significant amounts of data, having been replaced by more advanced and efficient methods.

• Example 3: A very old will or trust document might contain instructions for distributing assets that include specific types of investments, such as "bearer bonds," which were once common but are now rarely issued or used due to changes in financial regulations and security practices. While the intent of the will remains, the specific investment vehicle mentioned is largely obsolete.

  Explanation: Here, "obsolete" refers to a specific financial instrument that, while once prevalent, is no longer in general use within the modern financial system. This requires legal professionals to interpret the intent of the document in light of current financial realities.