Legal Definitions - separatim

separatim is a historical legal term that means "severally" or "individually." It refers to situations where multiple items, parties, or provisions are considered or treated distinctly and separately, rather than as a single, unified whole.

Here are some examples to illustrate this concept:

• Contractual Obligations: Imagine a large construction project where a general contractor hires three different specialized subcontractors: one for plumbing, one for electrical work, and one for roofing. If the contracts specify that the responsibilities of each subcontractor are to be treated separatim, it means that each subcontractor is individually and solely accountable for their specific area of work. For instance, if there's a plumbing issue, only the plumbing subcontractor is held responsible, not the electrical or roofing teams, even though they are all part of the same overall project.

• Judicial Opinions: In a court case heard by a panel of judges, the judges might issue their opinions separatim. This means that while they all participate in the same case, each judge might write their own distinct opinion—perhaps a majority opinion, a concurring opinion (agreeing with the outcome but for different reasons), or a dissenting opinion (disagreeing with the majority). Each opinion stands as a separate legal statement, reflecting the individual judge's reasoning, rather than a single, unified statement from the entire panel.

• Distribution of Assets: Consider a will that outlines the distribution of a deceased person's estate. If the will directs that specific valuable items, such as a collection of rare books or antique furniture, are to be distributed separatim, it means each item is to be considered and allocated individually to different beneficiaries. For example, one specific book might go to a niece, while another distinct piece of furniture goes to a nephew, rather than the entire collection being given to one person or sold as a single lot.