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Simple English definitions for legal terms
reasonable excuse
Read a random definition: American Bar Foundation
A quick definition of reasonable excuse:
Reasonable excuse is a term used in law to describe a valid reason for doing something or not doing something. For example, if someone is late for work because their car broke down, that could be considered a reasonable excuse. In criminal law, probable cause is a type of reasonable excuse that means there is a good reason to believe someone has committed a crime or that a place contains evidence related to a crime. This is important because before the police can arrest someone or search their property, they need to have probable cause.
A more thorough explanation:
Reasonable excuse is a term used in law to describe a situation where a person has a valid and justifiable reason for their actions. It is similar to the concept of probable cause, which is a reasonable ground to suspect that a person has committed or is committing a crime.
- If a person is late for work because their car broke down on the way, that would be considered a reasonable excuse for their tardiness.
- If a student misses a class because they are sick, that would be a reasonable excuse for their absence.
- If a person is unable to pay their rent on time because they lost their job, that would be a reasonable excuse for their late payment.
These examples illustrate how a reasonable excuse can be used to justify a person's actions or behavior. In each case, the person has a valid reason for their actions that is understandable and justifiable.