Legal Definitions - willful

The term willful refers to actions that are done intentionally, consciously, voluntarily, and with the intention of achieving a specific outcome. The meaning of the term "willful" varies depending on the context in which it is used.

• Criminal Law: In criminal law, "willful" refers to an act or omission that is done intentionally, deliberately, or designedly, as opposed to an act or omission done accidentally, inadvertently, or innocently. For example, if someone intentionally steals something, it would be considered a willful act of theft.
• Workers' Compensation Acts: In the context of workers' compensation, willful misconduct means that the misconduct was done purposely, with knowledge, or that the misconduct was of such a character as to evince a reckless disregard of consequences. For example, if an employee intentionally ignores safety protocols and gets injured as a result, it would be considered willful misconduct.
• Bankruptcy Law: In bankruptcy law, willful default is an intentional failure to respond to litigation. For example, if someone intentionally ignores a court summons, it would be considered a willful default.
• Tort Law: In tort law, a "willful" tort is a tort that is committed in an intentional and conscious way. For example, if someone intentionally harms another person, it would be considered a willful tort.

These examples illustrate how the term "willful" is used in different legal contexts to describe intentional actions or omissions. In each example, the term "willful" is used to distinguish intentional behavior from accidental or innocent behavior.