Legal Definitions - classification

Definition: The process of categorizing or grouping things based on their characteristics or properties.

• Conflict of laws: In a legal case involving multiple jurisdictions, the court must classify or determine the nature of the problem presented to it in order to refer to the appropriate law. For example, if the case involves a contract dispute, the court must apply the choice-of-law rule for contracts.
• Family law: In a divorce case, the process of classifying property accumulated by spouses as either separate or marital property is important in determining how the property will be divided.

These examples illustrate how classification involves grouping or categorizing things based on their characteristics or properties. In the legal context, classification is important in determining which laws or rules apply to a particular case or situation.