Legal Definitions - nonresidence

Definition: Nonresidence refers to the status of living outside the limits of a particular place. In Ecclesiastical law, it also refers to the absence of a spiritual person from the benefice, which was an offense punishable by sequestering the benefice and forfeiting part of its income.

• John's nonresidence in the city made it difficult for him to attend meetings regularly.
• The bishop was accused of nonresidence because he had not been present in his benefice for several months.

The first example illustrates nonresidence as the status of living outside a particular place, while the second example illustrates nonresidence in the context of Ecclesiastical law, where it refers to the absence of a spiritual person from their benefice.