Legal Maxims PH

Absoluta sentential expositore non indigent – When language of law is clear, no explanation is required.
Actus me invito factus non est meus actus — An act done by me against my will is not my act.
Actus non facit reum, nisi mens sit rea – The act itself does not make a man guilty unless his intention
were so.
Ad proximum antecedens fiat relatio nisi impediatur sentential — Relative words refer to the nearest
antecedents, unless the context otherwise requires.
Argumentum a contrario — Negative-opposite doctrine.
Casus omissus pro omisso habendus est — A person,object or thing omitted from an enumeration must
be held to have been omitted intentionally.
Cessante ratione legis, cessat et ipsa lex — When the reason of the law ceases, the law itself ceases.
Contemporanea expositio est optima et fortissima in lege — The contemporary construction is strongest
in law.
Distingue temporaet concordabis jura — Distinguish times and you will harmonize laws.
Dura lex sed lex — The law maybe harsh, but that is the law.
Ejusdem generis — Of the same kind or specie.
Exceptio firmat regulam in casibus non exceptis — A thing not being excepted must be regarded as
coming within the purview of the general rule.
Ex dolo malo non oritur actio — No man can be allowed to found a claim upon his own wrongdoing.
Expressio unius est exclusio alterius — The express mention of
one person, thing or consequence implies the exclusion ofall
others.
Expressum facit cessare tacitum — Whatis expressee P to
that whichis implied.
ry implication of law.
corpore constat — False
truction nor vitiate the
Ex necessitate legis — By necessa
Falsa demonstratio non nocet, cum de
description does not preclude cons
meaningof the statute.

tringenda — Penal laws which are Favores ampliandisunt; odia res ;
troactiveeffect. favorable to the accused are given re
Generale dictum generaliter est interpretandum — A general
statementis understood in a general sense.
Generalia verba sunt generaliter intelligenda — What is generally
spokenshall be generally understood.
al law does notnullify Generalia specialibus non derogant — A gener
a specific or special law.
Hoc quidem perquam durum est, sed ita lex scripta est — It is
exceedingly hard but so the law is written.
Impossibilium nulla obligatio est — There is no obligation to do an
impossible thing.
Index animi sermo est — Speechis the index of intention.
In eo quod plussit, semper inest et minus — The greater includes
the lesser.
Interest reipublicaeut sit finis litium — Public interest requires that
by the very nature of things there must be an end to a legal
controversy.
Interpotare et concordare legibus est optimus interpotandi modus
Interpotare et concordare legibus est optimus interpotandi modus
— Every statute must be so construed and harmonized with
other statutes as to form uniform system of law.
Interpretatio fienda est ut res magis valeat quam pereat — A law
should be interpreted with a view to upholding rather than
destroyingit.
Interpretatio talis in ambiguis semper fienda est ut evitetur
inconveniens et absurdum — Where there is ambiguity, such
interpretation as will avoid inconvenience and absurdityis to
be adopted.
Legis interpretation legis vim obtinet - interpretation of the court of a statu
by be coming a part thereof.
: — The authoritative
€ acquires theforce of law
eges posteriores priores contrarias abrogant
a prior law on the same subject which is — A later law repeals
repugnant thereto.
de futuro, judex de praterito — The law provides for the future
the judge for the past.
Let prospictt, non respicit — Thelaw looks forward, not backward
itio quae corr aledicta est expositio q amapil textum, = Tis Aen
y construction whichis againstthe text. gerous
Noscitur a soculs — Word construed with reference to accompanying
or associated words.
Nova constitutio futuris formam imponere debet non praeteritis — A
new statute should affect the future, not the past.
Nullus commodum potest de injuria propriasua — No man should
be allowed to take advantage of his own wrong.
Nullum crimen sine poena, nulla poena sine lege — There is no crime
without a penalty, and there is no penalty without a law.
Nullum tempusoccurit regi — There can be nolegalright as against
the authority that makes the law on whichthe right depends.
Optima statuti interpretatrix est ipsum statutum — The best
interpreter of a statute is the statuteitself.
Optimus interpres rerum usus — Thebestinterpreter of the law is
usage.
Pari materia — Relating to same matter.
Privilegia reciprint largan interpretationem voluntate consonan
concedentis — Privileges are to be interpreted in accordance

with the will of him who grants them.
Potior est in tempore, potior est in jure — He whoisfirst in time is
preferred in right.
Quando aliquid prohibetur ex directo, prohibetur et per obliquum
— Whatis prohibited directly is prohibited indirectly.
Ratihabito mandato aquiparatur — Legislative ratification is equivalent
to a mandate.
Ratio legis — Interpretation according
Ratio legis est anima legis — The reason
Reddendosingula singulis — Referring each 10 ©"
phrase or expressionto its appropriate object; 0
in its proper place.
Salus populi est supremalex — The voice ofthe people is the supreme
law.
Surplusagium non nocet — Surplusage does no
Stare decisis et non quieta movere — Follow past
not disturb what has beensettled.
Ubijus, ibi remedium — Wherethereis a right, there is a remedy.
Ubi lex non distinguit, nec nos distinguere debemus = Where the
law doesnotdistinguish, we should not distinguish. :
Utile per inutile non vitiatur — The useful is not vitiated by the
non-useful.
Ut res magis valeat quam pereat — That constructionis to be sought
which gives effect to the whole of the statute — its every
word.
t vitiate a statute.
precedents and do
Verba accipienda sunt secundum subjectam materiam — A wordis
to be understood in the context in which it is used.

Verba intentioni, non econtra, debent inservire — Words ought to
be more subservient to the intent and not the intent to the
words.
Verba legis — Plain-meaningrule.
Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt — The laws aid
the vigilant, not those who slumberontheir rights.
Verba legis non est recedendum — From the words ofthe statute
there should be no departure.

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Absoluta sentential expositore non indigent – When language of law is clear, no explanation is required.

Argumentum a contrario — Negative-opposite doctrine.

Ejusdem generis — Of the same kind or specie.

Expressio unius est exclusio alterius — The express mention of

one person, thing or consequence implies the exclusion ofall

Expressum facit cessare tacitum — Whatis expressee P to

that whichis implied.

corpore constat — False

truction nor vitiate the

Ex necessitate legis — By necessa

Falsa demonstratio non nocet, cum de

description does not preclude cons

meaningof the statute.

troactiveeffect. favorable to the accused are given re

Generale dictum generaliter est interpretandum — A general

statementis understood in a general sense.

Generalia verba sunt generaliter intelligenda — What is generally

spokenshall be generally understood.

al law does notnullify Generalia specialibus non derogant — A gener

a specific or special law.

exceedingly hard but so the law is written.

Impossibilium nulla obligatio est — There is no obligation to do an

Index animi sermo est — Speechis the index of intention.

In eo quod plussit, semper inest et minus — The greater includes

Interest reipublicaeut sit finis litium — Public interest requires that

by the very nature of things there must be an end to a legal

Interpotare et concordare legibus est optimus interpotandi modus

Interpotare et concordare legibus est optimus interpotandi modus

— Every statute must be so construed and harmonized with

other statutes as to form uniform system of law.

Interpretatio fienda est ut res magis valeat quam pereat — A law

should be interpreted with a view to upholding rather than

Interpretatio talis in ambiguis semper fienda est ut evitetur

inconveniens et absurdum — Where there is ambiguity, such

interpretation as will avoid inconvenience and absurdityis to

by be coming a part thereof.

€ acquires theforce of law

eges posteriores priores contrarias abrogant

a prior law on the same subject which is — A later law repeals

de futuro, judex de praterito — The law provides for the future

the judge for the past.

Let prospictt, non respicit — Thelaw looks forward, not backward

y construction whichis againstthe text. gerous

Noscitur a soculs — Word construed with reference to accompanying

Nova constitutio futuris formam imponere debet non praeteritis — A

new statute should affect the future, not the past.

Nullus commodum potest de injuria propriasua — No man should

be allowed to take advantage of his own wrong.

without a penalty, and there is no penalty without a law.

Nullum tempusoccurit regi — There can be nolegalright as against

the authority that makes the law on whichthe right depends.

Optima statuti interpretatrix est ipsum statutum — The best

interpreter of a statute is the statuteitself.

Optimus interpres rerum usus — Thebestinterpreter of the law is

Pari materia — Relating to same matter.

Privilegia reciprint largan interpretationem voluntate consonan

concedentis — Privileges are to be interpreted in accordance

Potior est in tempore, potior est in jure — He whoisfirst in time is

Quando aliquid prohibetur ex directo, prohibetur et per obliquum