Legal Definitions - in initialibus

Definition: In initialibus (in i-nish-ee-al-uh-buhs) is a Latin term used in law to refer to the preliminary stage of a legal proceeding.

Example: In a court case, the judge may ask the witness questions during the initialia testimonii (i-nish-ee-ay-lee-uh tes-tuh-moh-nee-I) to determine if they are competent to testify.

Explanation: The term "in initialibus" is used to describe the beginning or preliminary stage of a legal proceeding. In the example given, the initialia testimonii is the preliminary examination of a witness to determine their competence to testify. This is an important step in ensuring that the testimony given in court is reliable and trustworthy.