Legal Definitions - praefatus

Praefatus is a Latin term meaning "aforesaid" or "previously mentioned." In legal documents, it is used to refer back to a person, object, or concept that has already been identified or described earlier in the same document, thereby avoiding the need to repeat the full description.

• Example 1 (Contractual Agreement): "The obligations of the parties, as detailed in the `praefatus` Section 4.2 of this agreement, shall commence upon the signing of this document."

  Explanation: Here, "praefatus Section 4.2" means "the previously mentioned Section 4.2." The document assumes that the reader has already encountered and understood the details of Section 4.2, and uses "praefatus" to efficiently refer back to those specific obligations without restating them.

• Example 2 (Legal Pleading): "Considering the evidence presented by the `praefatus` expert witness, Dr. Aris Thorne, the court should rule in favor of the plaintiff."

  Explanation: In this scenario, "praefatus expert witness" indicates that Dr. Aris Thorne and his testimony were already introduced and discussed earlier in the legal filing. The term serves as a concise way to refer to him without needing to re-introduce his credentials or the specifics of his testimony.

• Example 3 (Will or Trust Document): "The executor is directed to distribute the `praefatus` antique collection to my niece, Clara."

  Explanation: This means "the previously mentioned antique collection." It implies that the will or trust document has, in an earlier section, provided a detailed description or inventory of the specific antique collection being referred to. Using "praefatus" prevents the need to list all the items again.