Legal Definitions - singuli in solidum

Singuli in solidum is a Latin legal principle that translates to "each for the whole." It describes a situation where multiple individuals or entities share an obligation, but each one is individually responsible for the entire amount or performance of that obligation, rather than just their proportional share. This means the party owed the obligation can demand full performance from any single one of the obligated parties.

• Example 1: Business Loan for Partners

  Imagine two business partners, Sarah and Tom, take out a $200,000 loan from a bank to expand their consulting firm. The loan agreement specifies that Sarah and Tom are liablesinguli in solidum. This means if the business encounters financial difficulties and cannot repay the loan, the bank has the right to pursue *either* Sarah for the entire $200,000, or Tom for the entire $200,000, or a combination from both, until the full amount is recovered. Neither partner can claim they are only responsible for half of the debt; each is individually accountable for the whole sum.

• Example 2: Joint Apartment Lease

  Consider a scenario where three friends, Alex, Ben, and Carla, sign a lease agreement for an apartment. The lease includes a clause stating they are liable singuli in solidum for the monthly rent. If Ben moves out unexpectedly and Alex and Carla fail to pay their share, the landlord is not obligated to chase each individual for their one-third portion. Instead, the landlord can demand the *entire* month's rent from either Alex or Carla (or even Ben, if he's still legally bound), and that individual would be responsible for paying the full amount.

• Example 3: Group Project Guarantee

  A non-profit organization is hosting a major fundraising event and needs several sponsors to guarantee a minimum amount of donations. Three corporate sponsors, Company X, Company Y, and Company Z, agree to guarantee a total of $50,000, with their agreement stating they are liable singuli in solidum. If the event falls short of its fundraising goal, the non-profit can demand the *full* $50,000 deficit from *any one* of the three companies. That chosen company would then be responsible for paying the entire guaranteed amount, even though other sponsors were also involved in the agreement.