Ex Lege

By law; by operation of law. EX LEGIBUS (Lat. according to the laws). A phrase of the civil law, which means according to the intent or spirit of the law, as well as according to the words or letter Dig. 50. 16. 6. See Calv. Lex. EX LICENTIA REGIS (Law Lat.) By the king's license. 1 Bl. Comm. 168, note. EX LOCATO (Lat. from or out of lease or letting). A term of the civil law, applied to actions or rights of action arising out of the contract of locatum. Inst. 4. 6. 28. Adopted at an early period in the law of England. Bracton, fol. 102; 1 Reeve, Hist. Eng. Law, 168. EX MALEFICIO (Lat.) On account of misconduct; by virtue of or out of an illegal act. Used in the civil law generally, and sometimes in the common law. Browne, St. Frauds, 110, note; Broom, Leg. Max. 351. EX MALEFICIO NON ORITUR CONtractus. A contract cannot arise out of an act radically wrong and illegal. Broom, Leg. Max. (3d London Ed.) 660; 1 Term R. 734; 3 Term R. 422; 1 H. Bl. 324; 5 El. & Bl. 999, 1015. EX MALIS MORIBUS BONAE LEGES natae sunt. Good laws arise from evil manners. 2 Inst. 161. EX MERO MOTU (Lat.) Mere motion of a party's own free will. Generally applied to action by a court of its own motion. Sua motu and sua sponte are used as synonyms. EX MORA (Lat.) From the delay; from the default. EX MORE (Lat.) According to custom.

By the law; by force of law; as a matter of law.