Legal Definitions - mort civile

Definition: Mort civile (mor[t] see-veel) is a legal term that refers to civil death. It is the loss of rights, such as the right to vote, make contracts, inherit, and sue, by a person who has been outlawed or convicted of a serious crime, or who is considered to have left the temporal world for the spiritual by entering a monastery. It can also refer to the state of a corporation that has formally dissolved or become bankrupt, leaving an estate to be administered for the benefit of shareholders and creditors.

Example: At common law, a person who has been outlawed or convicted of a serious crime would lose their rights and be considered dead in the eyes of the law. This means they would not be able to vote, make contracts, inherit, or sue. Similarly, when a corporation dissolves or becomes bankrupt, it is considered legally dead and its assets are distributed to shareholders and creditors.

This term is important in understanding the legal consequences of certain actions and situations, such as criminal convictions and corporate bankruptcies.