Legal Definitions - sur

The term sur is a historical legal term derived from Law French, meaning upon or on.

Although no longer commonly used in modern legal English, it historically appeared in various legal phrases to indicate that an action, right, or condition was contingent upon, based on, or immediately followed another event or fact.

Here are some examples illustrating its historical usage:

• Example 1: In old legal proceedings, a court might issue an order sur a party's failure to respond to a summons.

  Explanation: Here, sur means "upon" or "on." The court's action (issuing an order) was taken upon or as a direct result of the party's failure to respond, indicating a direct causal or sequential relationship.

• Example 2: A historical legal document might state that a certain right to property was granted sur the completion of specific feudal duties.

  Explanation: In this context, sur signifies that the property right was contingent upon or after the fulfillment of the required feudal duties. The right arose only once those duties were completed.

• Example 3: A judge might have historically directed a clerk to record a particular finding sur the testimony of a key witness.

  Explanation: This usage of sur indicates that the clerk's action of recording the finding was based upon or directly followed the information provided in the witness's testimony. The testimony served as the basis for the recorded finding.