Forma
A New Law Dictionary and Glossary · Alexander M. Burrill · 1850
A New Law Dictionary and Glossary
Lat. [L. Fr. forme, fourmeJ] Form; the prescribed form of judicial proceedings. Forma et figwra jttdicii; the form and shape of judgment or judicial action.
3 Bl. Com, 271.
A form prescribed by statute. According to Lord Coke, there are two manner of forms, forma verbalis, (verbal form) and forma legalis, (legal form.) Forma verbalis stands upon the letters and syllables of the act; forma legalia stands upon the substance of the thing to be done, and upon the sense of the statute.
10 Co. 100 a.
Forma IcgalU forma eascatialia* Legal form is essential form.
10 Co, 100.
Forma aon obaerrata, infcrtar adanlla* tio aci Bs. Where form is not observed, a nullity of the act is inferred. 12 Co. 1, Where the law prescribes a form, the nonobservance of it is fatal to the proceeding, and the whole becomes a nullity.
Best on Hvid. Introd. § 59.