Legal Definitions - pro persona

Pro persona is a Latin term that translates to "for one's own person" or "on one's own behalf." In legal contexts, it describes an individual who represents themselves in court or in legal proceedings without the assistance of a lawyer. It is essentially synonymous with acting "pro se."

Here are some examples to illustrate this concept:

• Small Claims Court: Imagine David believes his landlord unfairly withheld his security deposit. Instead of hiring an attorney, David researches the relevant laws, prepares his own documents, and presents his case directly to the judge in small claims court. By handling the entire process himself, David is acting pro persona.

  This illustrates pro persona because David is personally advocating for his own interests in a legal setting without professional legal representation.

• Family Law Matter: Sarah and her spouse are going through an uncontested divorce. They agree on all terms, and Sarah decides to file the necessary paperwork and attend the final court hearing herself to finalize the divorce, rather than paying for a lawyer. In this situation, Sarah is proceeding pro persona.

  This example demonstrates pro persona as Sarah is personally managing her legal divorce proceedings and presenting herself before the court without an attorney.

• Responding to a Citation: Michael receives a minor traffic citation and believes he has a valid defense. He chooses not to hire a lawyer but instead gathers his evidence, prepares his arguments, and presents them to the judge during his court appearance. Michael's actions in court are considered pro persona.

  Here, Michael is acting pro persona because he is personally representing himself to contest the citation and present his defense to the court.