Legal Definitions - prendré

The term prendré is derived from Spanish, where it means "I will seize" or "I will arrest." In a legal context, it refers to the act or the authority to take a person into custody or to seize property by legal process. It signifies the exercise of official power to secure an individual or an asset, often under a warrant or other legal justification.

• Example 1: Criminal Apprehension

  Imagine a police officer responding to a reported crime. After gathering sufficient evidence and establishing probable cause, the officer might state, "I will prendré the suspect," meaning they intend to arrest and take the individual into custody. This illustrates the direct act of apprehending a person under legal authority.

• Example 2: Asset Seizure in Civil Litigation

  Consider a situation where a court has issued a judgment against a debtor who refuses to pay. The court might then issue an order authorizing a sheriff to "prendré" specific assets belonging to the debtor, such as a vehicle or bank funds, to satisfy the debt. Here, prendré refers to the legal authority to seize property to enforce a court's decision.

• Example 3: Historical Maritime Law

  In historical international treaties concerning maritime trade, a clause might have granted a nation's naval forces the right to "prendré" any foreign vessel found engaging in piracy or smuggling within its territorial waters. This demonstrates the concept of a sovereign power's right to seize ships or goods that violate established laws or agreements.