Legal Definitions - equitable construction

Equitable construction is a way of interpreting a document, such as a law or contract, that is fair and just. It is also known as liberal construction. This type of interpretation looks at the overall purpose and intent of the document, rather than just the literal words.

For example, if a law is written in a way that could be interpreted in two different ways, one of which would achieve the intended purpose of the law and the other would not, an equitable construction would choose the interpretation that achieves the purpose of the law.

Another example is if a contract is written in a way that is unclear or ambiguous, an equitable construction would look at the context and circumstances surrounding the contract to determine the intended meaning.

Overall, equitable construction is a way of interpreting documents that is focused on fairness and justice, rather than just the literal words.