Legal Definitions - plene computavit

Plene computavit is a historical legal term from Law Latin meaning "he has fully accounted." It refers to a defense, or "plea," that a defendant would raise in a specific type of lawsuit known as an "action of account render."

In such a lawsuit, one party (the plaintiff) would demand that another party (the defendant) provide a detailed financial accounting of money or property that the defendant was entrusted to manage. The defendant would use the plene computavit plea to assert that they had already provided a complete, satisfactory, and full accounting of all relevant transactions and assets, thereby fulfilling their obligation. Essentially, it was a claim that there was nothing left to account for, as all duties in that regard had already been met.

• Example 1: The Estate Executor

  Imagine a situation in the past where an executor was responsible for managing the assets of a deceased person's estate for the benefit of the heirs. If one of the heirs later sued the executor, demanding a full accounting of all estate funds and distributions, the executor could raise a plene computavit plea. This would mean the executor asserts that they had already provided comprehensive financial statements, receipts, and explanations for every transaction, demonstrating that they had fully accounted for all the estate's assets as required by law.

• Example 2: The Business Partner

  Consider two individuals who entered into a temporary business partnership, with one partner designated to manage all the financial aspects of their joint venture. After the venture concluded, the non-managing partner sued the managing partner, claiming they had failed to provide a proper breakdown of the venture's income and expenses. The managing partner could respond with a plene computavit defense, arguing that they had consistently shared detailed ledgers, bank statements, and profit/loss reports throughout and at the conclusion of the partnership, thereby fully accounting for all financial activities.

• Example 3: The Guardian of Funds

  Suppose a guardian was appointed to manage a substantial sum of money inherited by a minor. Once the minor reached adulthood, they initiated a legal action against the guardian, demanding a complete accounting of how their inheritance was managed over the years. The guardian could employ the plene computavit plea, asserting that they had meticulously documented every investment, expense, and income generated from the funds, and had regularly provided these detailed accounts to the court or other oversight bodies, thus having already fully accounted for the inheritance.