Legal Definitions - personal

Personal, adjective

1. Relating to or affecting a person. For example, a personal injury is an injury that affects a person's body or mind.
2. Relating to or belonging to a person. For example, personal belongings are items that belong to a person.

In personam, adjective and adverb

1. Relating to the personal rights and obligations of the parties involved in a legal action. For example, an action in personam is a legal action brought against a person rather than property.
2. Used to describe a legal action that is brought against a person rather than property. For example, a breach of contract lawsuit is an action in personam.

Examples:

• If someone gets hurt in a car accident, they may suffer a personal injury such as a broken bone or a concussion.
• When someone moves into a new apartment, they bring their personal belongings with them, such as clothes, furniture, and electronics.
• If someone sues another person for not fulfilling a contract, it is an action in personam because it is a legal action brought against a person rather than property.

These examples illustrate how the term personal can be used to describe things that relate to or belong to a person, as well as legal actions that involve the personal rights and obligations of the parties involved.