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Legalities

Legal Terms

These are common terms we find when doing family research. This list is by no means all inclusive.

a.a.s.died in the year of his/her age (anno aetitis suae) (86 years old and died in the year 86)
bondmarriage, indenture, guardian (click on bond)
d.s.pdied without issue (decessit sine prole legitima)
d.s.p.l.died without legitimate issue (decessit sine prole mascula supesita)
d.s.p.m.s.died without surviving male issue (decessit sine prole mascula supersita)
d.s.p.s.died without surviving issue (decessit sine prole supersita)
d.unmdied unmarried
d.v.p.died in the lifetime of his father (decessit vita patris)
d.v.m.died in the lifetime of his mother (decessit vita matris)
Et alother parties are involved, but not listed in the name of the case. There can be many other defendants. (et alia)
Ex Psometimes used at the beginning of the name of a case, for example, Ex P Charles Smith. It is usually used to refer to a case that has been appealed as another way to designate that other parties are involved and multiple appeals have been filed. It can also be used when one party may want to remain anonymous and files a motion with the court. (Ex Parte)
heirs-at-lawanyone who would legally be considered an heir to a deceased person
Instpresent month (instans)
intestateone who dies without a will
Liberbook or volume
Neposgrandson
Nunc Nuncapativewill, an oral will, written by a witness
Obhe/she died (obit)
Relictwidow or widower (relicta/relictus)
Sicso or thus, exact copy as written
testatorone who dies with a valid will
Testislegal witnesses
Utllate (ultimo)
Ux or vswife (uxor)
Viznamely (videlicet)

English Common Law, 18th Century Virginia

At age 14 for males (age 12 for females), one could:
At age 16 for males, one could:
At age 18 for males, one could:
At age 21 for males (age 18 for females), one could:
At age 21 for males, one could:

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Page content reviewed and/or updated by the Advisory Board 2022 Dec


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