Legal Definitions - remit

To remit generally means to send something back, most commonly referring to an appellate court sending a case to a lower court for further action. It can also mean to transmit money as payment, or to pardon, lessen, or restore something to a previous state or condition.

The term "remit" has several distinct meanings in a legal and general context, often relating to sending something back, reducing, or forgiving.

• To pardon or forgive; to excuse from a penalty or obligation.

  This sense of "remit" means to officially cancel a punishment, debt, or requirement, essentially granting forgiveness or a waiver.

  • Example 1: After a thorough review of the student's financial hardship, the university decided to remit the outstanding balance of their tuition fees.

    Explanation: Here, "remit" means the university forgave or excused the student from the obligation to pay the remaining tuition.

  • Example 2: The governor used their executive power to remit the remaining portion of the prisoner's sentence, allowing for an early release.

    Explanation: In this context, the governor pardoned or forgave the prisoner for the rest of their time, canceling the obligation to serve the full sentence.

• To abate or slacken; to mitigate.

  In this usage, "remit" means to lessen, reduce, or make less severe the intensity, impact, or strictness of something.

  • Example 1: The city council voted to remit the strict parking regulations during the annual downtown festival to encourage attendance.

    Explanation: This means the council decided to lessen or relax the usual parking rules for a specific period.

  • Example 2: The judge chose to remit the severity of the fine, considering the defendant's genuine remorse and lack of prior offenses.

    Explanation: Here, "remit" signifies that the judge reduced or mitigated the harshness of the financial penalty.

• To refer (a matter for decision) to some authority, especially to send back (a case) to a lower court.

  This is a common legal application where a higher court sends a case back to a lower court or another authority for further action, investigation, or a new decision.

  • Example 1: The appellate court, finding errors in the original trial's jury instructions, decided to remit the case to the trial court for a new hearing.

    Explanation: The higher court sent the case back to the lower court to be re-evaluated or retried due to a procedural flaw.

  • Example 2: The federal regulatory agency received a complex complaint and chose to remit the matter to the state-level environmental protection department for local investigation.

    Explanation: The federal agency referred the issue to a more appropriate, local authority for handling and decision-making.

• To send or put back to a previous condition or position.

  This sense implies restoring someone or something to an earlier state, right, or status, often as a consequence of another party's actions.

  • Example 1: When the software vendor failed to deliver the promised features, the client was remitted to their contractual right to terminate the agreement and receive a full refund.

    Explanation: The client was put back into a position where they could exercise a right they had before the vendor's breach.

  • Example 2: After the wrongful termination lawsuit, the court ordered that the employee be remitted to their original job position with full back pay.

    Explanation: The employee was restored to their previous employment status and conditions as if the termination had never occurred.

• To transmit (as money).

  This is a common, non-legal use of the word, meaning to send money, typically as a payment or transfer.

  • Example 1: Upon receiving the invoice, the customer promptly decided to remit the full amount due via an online bank transfer.

    Explanation: The customer sent the required payment for the invoice.

  • Example 2: Many expatriate workers regularly remit a portion of their earnings to their families living in their home country.

    Explanation: The workers send money to their families as a financial transfer.