Legal Definitions - thereabouts

Thereabouts

The term "thereabouts" is used to indicate an approximate location or time. It suggests that something is close to, but not precisely at, a specified point in space or a particular moment in time.

• Example 1 (Location): A police report might state, "The suspect was last seen on Maple Avenue, near the public library, or thereabouts."

  Explanation: This indicates that while Maple Avenue near the library is the general area where the suspect was observed, the exact spot might have been a short distance away, either on Maple Avenue itself or a nearby street, providing an approximate location.

• Example 2 (Time): During a trial, a witness might testify, "The accident occurred around 3:30 PM, or thereabouts, just as school was letting out."

  Explanation: Here, "thereabouts" conveys that the witness is providing an estimated time, acknowledging that the precise moment of the accident might have been a few minutes before or after 3:30 PM, but very close to it.

• Example 3 (Property Description): A legal document describing land might refer to a boundary as, "The northern boundary extends to the old stone wall, or thereabouts, as historically recognized by adjacent landowners."

  Explanation: This usage acknowledges that the stone wall serves as a general marker for the boundary, but the exact legal line might be a short, imprecise distance from the wall itself, allowing for minor variations or interpretations over time.