Definition of Declaratory

Explanatory; designed to fix or elucidate what before was uncertain or doubtful.
—Declaratory action. In Scotch law. An action in which the right of the pursuer (or plaintiff) is craved to be declared, but nothing claimed to be done by the defender, (defendant.) Ersk. Inst. 5, 1, 46. Otherwise calied an "action of declarator."
—Declaratory decree. In practice. A binding declaration of right in equity without consequential relief.
—Declaratory judgment. A declaratory judgment is one which simply declares the rights of the parties, or expresses the opinion of the court on a question of law, without ordering anything to be done.
—Declaratory part of s law. Hat which clearly defines rights to be observed and wrongs to be eschewed.
—Declaratory statute. One enacted for the purpose of removing doubts or putting an end to conflicting decisions in regard to what the kw is in relation to a particular matter. It may either be expressive of the common law, (1 Bl. Comm. 86; Gray v. Bennett, 3 Mete. [Mass.] 527;) or may declare what shall be taken to be the true meaning and intention of a previous statute, though in the latter case such enactments are more commonly calied "expository statutes,"