Legal Definitions - REG. ORIG.

REG. ORIG. stands for REGISTRUM ORIGINALE. This Latin term refers to the original register or record. In a legal and administrative context, it signifies the primary, official, and authoritative document or ledger from which all other copies or subsequent entries are derived. It is the foundational source of information, maintained in its initial, unaltered form.

Here are some examples to illustrate this concept:

• Example 1: State Birth Records Archive

  Imagine a state's vital records office that maintains a secure, physical archive of every birth certificate ever issued within its borders. This archive contains the very first, hand-signed or officially stamped document for each individual's birth. When someone requests a certified copy of their birth certificate, the copy is made from this foundational record.

  In this scenario, the state's master archive of original birth certificates serves as the REGISTRUM ORIGINALE. It is the definitive, primary source of information for establishing a person's legal identity, date of birth, and parentage. All subsequent copies or digital records are validated against this original register.

• Example 2: County Property Deed Books

  A county recorder's office keeps large, bound books containing the original, officially recorded deeds for every piece of property within the county. Each time a property is bought, sold, or has a lien placed against it, the original legal document is physically recorded in these books, often by hand or through a meticulous copying process, and assigned a unique identifier.

  These official deed books represent the REGISTRUM ORIGINALE for all real estate transactions in the county. They are the authoritative source for determining property ownership, easements, and encumbrances. Any title search or property dispute would ultimately refer back to these original records to establish legal facts.

• Example 3: University Academic Transcripts

  A university's registrar's office maintains a permanent, official record for every student, detailing all courses taken, grades received, degrees awarded, and academic honors. This master record is updated semester by semester and is the sole source from which official transcripts are generated.

  This comprehensive, official student record held by the registrar is the REGISTRUM ORIGINALE for a student's academic history. It is the primary, authoritative document that verifies a student's educational achievements, and any transcript issued to employers or other institutions is a certified copy derived directly from this original register.