Ipso Facto

Definition

By the very fact itself, without any further action needed. A clause that terminates a contract ipso facto takes effect automatically when a triggering event occurs. It is the law's version of 'it happens because it happened.'

Example Usage

Under the bankruptcy clause, the lease terminated ipso facto upon the tenant's filing.

Origin

Latin, meaning 'by the fact itself.'

Source: Common legal Latin

Related Terms

Intermediate

Tort

A civil wrong that is not a crime but still gets you sued, and no, it has nothing to do with the delicious layered cake despite sounding identical. The legal system's way of saying "that was not cool, now pay up."

⚖️ Legal

Intermediate

Class Action

A lawsuit where thousands of people band together to sue a corporation and, after years of litigation, each receive a check for $3.47 while the lawyers buy vacation homes. Democracy in action.

⚖️ Legal

Intermediate

restitution

The legal world's fancy term for "you break it, you buy it," except it's more like "you broke it, now make the victim whole again." This compensation process can involve cold hard cash, community service, or whatever the court decides will restore cosmic balance after someone's wrongdoing.

⚖️ Legal

Intermediate

stipulate

To formally agree to specific terms or conditions in a contract, or to agree that certain facts are true so you don't have to waste time proving them in court. It's the legal profession's way of saying "fine, we'll accept that for the sake of argument." Also saves billable hours, which is probably the real reason lawyers do it.

⚖️ Legal

Intermediate

Domicile

A person's permanent legal residence, which determines jurisdiction and which state's laws apply to them. It's where the law says you 'really' live, regardless of where you actually sleep at night.

⚖️ Legal

Advanced

Writ of Certiorari

A petition to a higher court (usually the Supreme Court) asking it to review a lower court's decision, with approval rates so low you might as well be playing the lottery.

⚖️ Legal

Translate This Term

See “Ipso Facto” in Corporate Speak, Gen-Z Slang, Pirate Speak, and more.

Try the Translator

Share This Term

Post on X Share on Facebook Share on LinkedIn

Discover a Term

Intermediate

victorian goth

A goth subculture aesthetic that trades fishnet and spikes for corsets, long skirts, and parasols straight out of the 18...