Legal Definitions - external act

An external act is a voluntary or involuntary bodily movement that results from a person's will being exerted on the external world. It is something that a person does or performs, such as speaking or writing. An external act can be intentional or unintentional, and it can be subject to legal consequences.

For example, if someone intentionally hits another person, that is an external act that can be considered assault. If someone accidentally knocks over a vase, that is also an external act, but it is not considered a legal offense.

Another example of an external act is signing a contract. This is a voluntary bodily movement that results in a legal agreement between two parties. The act of signing the contract is an external manifestation of the person's will to enter into the agreement.