Ab initio
from the beginning
Ab initio is a Latin term meaning "from the beginning." In law, it signifies that a legal act or agreement is regarded as invalid or void from its inception.
Ab initio is a Latin expression that literally means 'from the beginning'. In the legal context, the term is used to denote that a particular legal act, such as a contract or a decision, is regarded as null and void from the moment of its creation.
The significance of ab initio lies in its consequences for the legal effects that follow. Where an act is null ab initio, all subsequent acts based upon it are likewise treated as invalid, which may give rise to complex legal situations.
In practice, ab initio commonly arises in the case of agreements that contravene statute or public policy, rendering them non-binding on the parties from the outset.
“The court declared the agreement void ab initio due to the violation of mandatory provisions.”
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