Legal Definitions - soit fait comme il est desire

soit fait comme il est desire is a historical phrase from Law French, meaning "let it be as it is desired." In the context of the British Parliament, this specific phrase was historically used to signify the monarch's formal approval, known as royal assent, for a private act of Parliament. Unlike public acts that affect the general population, private acts are legislative measures that grant specific powers or benefits to a particular person, group, or corporate body.

Here are some examples illustrating its application:

• Example 1: A Corporation Seeking Special Powers

  Imagine a prominent university in the 19th century that wished to expand its campus by acquiring a specific piece of land, but existing laws prevented them from doing so without special permission. The university would petition Parliament for a private act to grant them the unique legal authority to purchase and develop that particular land. Once both Houses of Parliament approved the bill, it would be presented to the monarch for royal assent. The phrase soit fait comme il est desire would be formally inscribed on the bill, indicating the monarch's approval and making the university's specific legal request law.

• Example 2: An Individual Altering Property Rights

  Consider a situation in the 18th century where a wealthy landowner wished to sell a portion of their entailed estate (land that could only be inherited by specific heirs and not freely sold) to pay off debts, which was not permitted under general inheritance laws. The landowner would petition Parliament for a private act specifically for their estate. If Parliament passed the bill, the monarch's endorsement, marked by soit fait comme il est desire, would legally enable the landowner to break the entail and sell the property, despite the usual legal restrictions.

• Example 3: A Local Authority Undertaking a Specific Project

  Suppose a municipal council in the early 20th century needed unique powers to construct a new bridge over a navigable river, requiring special legal authority to divert shipping traffic temporarily and acquire specific riparian rights beyond their general powers. They would seek a private act of Parliament to grant them these specific authorities for that particular project. After parliamentary approval, the monarch's formal declaration of soit fait comme il est desire would grant the council the precise legal authority needed to proceed with their bridge construction project.