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Simple English definitions for legal terms
de facto
Read a random definition: ex contractu
A quick definition of de facto:
Term: de facto
Definition: De facto means doing something that is not strictly allowed by the law, but is still considered legal because it has been done for a long time and is accepted by people. It's like a tradition that people follow even though it's not written in the rules.
A more thorough explanation:
Definition: De facto action is an action that is considered legally valid even though it was taken without strict legal authority. This is because the action has become a tradition and is recognized as valid based on its existence.
Example: A common example of de facto action is when a person takes on the role of a parent to a child, even though they are not the child's legal guardian. If the person has been caring for the child for a long time and has established a relationship with the child, their actions may be considered legally valid even though they do not have legal authority.
Another example of de facto action is when a group of people start using a piece of land for a specific purpose, such as a park or a community garden, even though they do not have legal ownership of the land. If the group has been using the land for a long time and the community recognizes it as a park or garden, their actions may be considered legally valid.
These examples illustrate how de facto action can become legally recognized based on tradition and the fact of its existence, even if it does not have strict legal authority.