Legal Definitions - lex patriae

Definition: Lex patriae is a Latin term that means "national law" or "the law of one's country." It refers to the legal system that governs a person's family matters, regardless of where they go.

Examples:In common-law systems, personal law refers to the law of the person's domicile. For instance, if a person is a citizen of the United States but lives in Canada, their personal law would be the law of the state they last lived in the US. In civil-law systems, it refers to the law of the individual's nationality. For example, if a person is a citizen of France but lives in the United States, their personal law would be French law.

Explanation: The concept of lex patriae is based on the idea that a person's family matters, such as marriage, divorce, and succession, should be governed by the legal system that is most suitable and adequate for the purpose. This means that even if a person moves to a different country, their personal law remains the same. The examples illustrate how personal law can differ depending on the legal system of the country a person is from or lives in.