Legal Definitions - manifest intent

Manifest intent refers to the state of mind accompanying an act, especially a forbidden act. It is the mental resolution or determination to do something. When the intent to do an act that violates the law exists, motive becomes immaterial.

For example, if someone steals something from a store, their manifest intent is to take something that does not belong to them, even if they had a good reason for doing so.

Another example is in the case of fidelity bonds, which cover an employer's losses caused by an employee's dishonest or fraudulent acts committed with a manifest intent to cause a loss to the employer and to obtain a benefit for the employee. Establishing manifest intent sufficient to trigger coverage does not require direct evidence that the employee intended the employer's loss. Even if the employee did not actively want that result, but the result was substantially certain to follow from the employee's conduct, the requisite intent will be inferred.

Overall, manifest intent is the clear and obvious intention behind an action, even if it is not explicitly stated.