Legal Definitions - prout patet per recordum

Prout patet per recordum is a Latin legal phrase that translates to "as appears by the record."

This phrase is used in legal contexts to indicate that a particular statement, fact, or legal conclusion is directly and verifiably supported by official documents, court filings, or other formal written records. When this phrase is used, it signifies that the information being presented is not merely an assertion but can be confirmed by referring to existing, authoritative documentation.

• Example 1: Court Judgment

  Imagine a judge issuing a ruling in a complex civil case. The judge might state, "The defendant's prior admission of liability for the initial accident is established, prout patet per recordum, in the signed settlement agreement filed on October 15th."

  This illustrates the term because the judge is not just stating that the defendant admitted liability; they are asserting that this admission is clearly documented and verifiable within the official court records, specifically the filed settlement agreement.

• Example 2: Property Dispute

  During a legal argument over property boundaries, a lawyer might argue, "The exact dimensions of the parcel in question are clearly defined, prout patet per recordum, in the original deed recorded with the county clerk's office in 1950."

  Here, the lawyer is emphasizing that the property dimensions are not subject to debate or interpretation because they are explicitly and officially documented in the historical deed, which serves as the authoritative record.

• Example 3: Administrative Hearing

  In an administrative hearing concerning a business license revocation, an official might declare, "The applicant's failure to renew their permit by the deadline is undeniable, prout patet per recordum, in the agency's permit renewal log and correspondence records."

  This statement indicates that the applicant's non-compliance is not an assumption but a fact that can be directly confirmed by reviewing the official log and communication records maintained by the agency.