Legal Definitions - VERIFIEDNON EST FACTUM

Definition: Verified non est factum is a legal term that refers to a situation where a person signs a document, but later claims that they did not understand what they were signing. This defense is used when the person signing the document was mistaken about its contents and did not intend to be bound by it. The term is related to the Latin phrase "non est factum," which means "it is not my deed."

Example: John signed a contract to purchase a car from a dealership. However, he later discovered that the contract included additional fees that he was not aware of at the time of signing. John claimed that he did not understand the terms of the contract and that he would not have signed it if he had known about the additional fees. He used the defense of verified non est factum to argue that the contract was not binding.

Explanation: This example illustrates how the defense of verified non est factum can be used to challenge the validity of a contract. If John can prove that he did not understand the terms of the contract and that he would not have signed it if he had known about the additional fees, he may be able to avoid being bound by the contract. This defense is only available in limited circumstances, and the person using it must show that they took reasonable steps to understand the document before signing it.