Legal Definitions - ratione

Ratione (ray-shee-oh-nee or rash-ee-oh-nee) is a Latin term that means "by reason" or "on account." It is often used in legal contexts to indicate the basis or reason for a particular action or decision.

• Ratione bonorum: By reason of property. For example, if someone inherits property from a deceased relative, they may be required to pay taxes on that property ratione bonorum.
• Ratione causae: By reason of the nature of the case. For example, if a case involves complex scientific or technical issues, the court may appoint an expert witness ratione causae to help explain the evidence to the judge and jury.
• Ratione contractus: By reason of the contract. For example, if two parties enter into a contract, they may be bound by the terms of that contract and subject to the jurisdiction of a particular court ratione contractus.

These examples illustrate how ratione is used to indicate the basis or reason for a particular legal action or decision. In each case, the term is used to explain why a particular rule or principle applies to the situation at hand.