civil death
Defined in 6 dictionaries — Case Law, Cyclopedic (1922), Ballentine's (1916), Bouvier (1914), Black's (1891), Burrill (1850)
Definitions from Case Law
From 26 U.S. 105 - Daniel Rhea v. Daniel Rhenner · 1828Most cited · 12 citing opinions
It has been uniformly considered, that banishment, or abjuration, is a civil death of the husband.
The Cyclopedic Law Dictionary
Walter A. Shumaker and George Foster Longsdorf; ed. James C. Cahill · 1922
That change of state of a person which is considered in the law as equivalent to death. See "Death."
Ballentine's Law Dictionary
James A. Ballentine · 1916
Bouvier's Law Dictionary and Concise Encyclopedia
John Bouvier; revised by Francis Rawle · 1914
That change of state of a person which is considered in the law as equivalent to death. See Death.
A Dictionary of Law
Henry Campbell Black · 1891
That cinge in a person’s legal and civil condition which deprives him of civic rights and juridical capacities and qualifications, as natural death extinguishes his natural condition. It follows as a consequence of being attainted of treason or felony, in English law, and anciently of entering a monastery or abjuring the realm. The person in this condition is said to be civéliter mortuus, civilly dead, or dead in law.
A New Law Dictionary and Glossary
Alexander M. Burrill · 1850
[Lat. mors civilis.] That change of a person's civil condition which is produced by certain acts or offences on his part; and which extinguishes his civil rights and capacities, just as natural death extinguishes his bodily existence. It anciently followed on a man's entering into religion, (i. e. going into a monastery,) or abjuring the realm; and is still in England the consequence of being attainted of treason or felony. Bract, fol. 301 b, 421 b. 1 Steph. Com. 132. 2 Bl. Com. 121. 4 Id. 380. In New York it follows on a person's being sentenced to imprisonment for life in a state prison. 2 Eev. St, [701,] 586, § 20. See Civiliter mortuus.