Legal Definitions - fraus legis

Definition: Fraus legis is a Latin term that means "fraud on the law." It refers to the act of evading the law by doing something that is not expressly forbidden by statute, but that the law does not want done.

Examples:

• A person who sets up a sham corporation to avoid paying taxes is committing fraus legis.
• Another example is when a person transfers property to a family member to avoid creditors.

These examples illustrate how fraus legis works. In both cases, the individuals are not breaking any specific laws, but they are using legal loopholes to evade the intent of the law. The law does not want people to avoid paying taxes or to transfer property to avoid creditors, so these actions are considered fraudulent.