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Simple English definitions for legal terms
time immemorial
Read a random definition: Professional Guardian
A quick definition of time immemorial:
Time immemorial refers to a time so long ago that nobody alive today knows for sure what happened then. It's a time that's so far back that people believe certain customs or rights have existed since then without any proof to the contrary. In the past, this time was set as the year 1189, which was when Henry II of England died. It's also a term used to describe a very long time that's beyond what people can remember or what the law can recognize.
A more thorough explanation:
Definition: Time immemorial refers to a point in time that is so far back that no living person has knowledge or proof contradicting the right or custom alleged to have existed since then. It can also refer to a point in time beyond which legal memory cannot go.
Examples:
- According to common law, time immemorial was fixed as the year 1189, which was the year that Henry II of England died. This means that any right or custom that has been in existence since that time is considered valid and cannot be challenged.
- In some cultures, certain traditions or practices have been passed down from generation to generation for so long that they are considered to have existed since time immemorial.
The examples illustrate that time immemorial is a concept used to establish the validity of certain rights or customs that have been in existence for a very long time. It is a way of acknowledging the importance of tradition and history in shaping our present-day society.