Legal Definitions - ut supra

Ut supra is a Latin phrase that translates to "as above". Historically, it was used in legal and official documents to refer back to information, details, or parties that had already been fully described or mentioned earlier in the same document. Its purpose was to avoid unnecessary repetition and streamline the text, assuming the reader would recall or easily locate the prior reference.

Here are a few examples to illustrate how "ut supra" would have been applied:

• In a Property Deed: Imagine a lengthy property deed from a century ago that meticulously describes a parcel of land, including its full legal description, boundaries, and any associated easements, in the initial paragraphs. Later in the document, when discussing the transfer of ownership or specific covenants related to that same property, the deed might state, "The Grantor hereby conveys the real property, ut supra, to the Grantee..."

  This illustrates "ut supra" by indicating that the specific piece of real property being referred to is the one that was fully and precisely detailed earlier in the deed, without needing to rewrite the entire description.

• In a Series of Court Filings: Consider a complex legal case with multiple motions, orders, and judgments filed over time. The initial complaint or a primary court order would typically list the full names of all parties involved (e.g., "Plaintiff John Smith v. Defendant Jane Doe and Third-Party Defendant XYZ Corp."). In subsequent filings within the same case, especially in historical documents, a judge's order might refer to "The parties, ut supra, are hereby ordered to..."

  This demonstrates "ut supra" by clearly identifying that "the parties" being addressed are the same individuals and entities whose full names and roles were previously established at the beginning of the case documentation.

• In a Will or Trust Document: A will might first define a specific beneficiary, such as "my niece, Sarah Johnson, residing at 123 Elm Street, Anytown, State." If the will later makes several bequests to this same individual, an older document might state, "I bequeath my antique watch to Sarah Johnson, ut supra," and then further down, "I also bequeath the sum of ten thousand dollars to Sarah Johnson, ut supra."

  This shows "ut supra" being used to confirm that the Sarah Johnson receiving these bequests is the same person whose full address and relationship were previously specified, preventing any ambiguity if there were other individuals with similar names.