Legal Definitions - annus utilis

Definition: Annus utilis is a Latin term that means "a year that can be used." In Roman law, it refers to a 365-day period during which legal rights could be exercised. This period does not include days when the courts were closed or when a person could not otherwise pursue those rights. It is a year made up of the available days for conducting legal business.

Example: If a person has a legal claim against someone, they have one year from the date of the incident to file a lawsuit. This one year is considered annus utilis, and it only includes the days when the courts are open and the person can pursue their legal claim.

Explanation: The example illustrates how annus utilis works in practice. If a person wants to exercise their legal rights, they must do so within the 365-day period of annus utilis. This period only includes the days when the courts are open and the person can pursue their legal claim. If the person misses this deadline, they may lose their right to pursue their claim.