Legal Definitions - bona fide emptor

Bona fide emptor is a Latin term that means "good-faith purchaser." It refers to someone who buys something for value without knowing about any other claims to the property or any defects in the seller's title. In other words, they buy something in good faith, without any knowledge of any problems with the purchase.

For example, if you buy a used car from a dealership and later find out that the car was stolen, you may not be considered a bona fide emptor because you should have done your due diligence to make sure the car was not stolen before buying it. However, if you buy a house from someone who has a clear title to the property and later find out that there was a lien on the property, you may be considered a bona fide emptor because you had no way of knowing about the lien.

In legal terms, a bona fide emptor has a superior right to the property they purchased, even if there are other claims against the seller's title. This means that they are protected from any fraud committed by the seller against a third party.