Also known as: actus legitimi · lawful act
Written by attorneys · grounded in primary & secondary sources — see below
A lawful act performed in accordance with legal authority that carries legal effect when executed under that authority.
Select any source to read its text and confirm it supports the definition.
Amelia Amari holds a power of attorney for her elderly uncle. She sells his vacant lot to a developer after obtaining all required permits and recording the deed. The transaction qualifies as an actus legitimus because it is a lawful act performed within the scope of her authority over the subject property.
Apollo Energy ships vehicles with repaired paint defects and discloses the repairs on every invoice. The disclosure satisfies state consumer-protection standards. The company's actions constitute an actus legitimus that limits punitive exposure because the conduct is lawful and fully authorized.
Adam Anderson addresses a crowd on a public sidewalk. When officers determine the gathering risks imminent violence, Anderson voluntarily stops speaking and disperses the listeners. His compliance is an actus legitimus that avoids liability for continuing an unlawful assembly.
Alexandra Armstrong, previously convicted of methamphetamine possession, obtains pseudoephedrine pursuant to a valid physician prescription and keeps the packaging. The possession is an actus legitimus because it occurs under lawful medical authority rather than as a prohibited act.
The Secretary of State, acting on presidential instruction, issues a passport listing Jerusalem as part of Israel. The designation is an actus legitimus because it implements the executive's constitutional authority over foreign affairs and recognition.
An actus legitimus is one performed under legal authority or with required formalities, producing valid legal consequences. An unlawful act lacks that authority or violates a prohibition, so it carries no protected legal effect.
Supporting sources
The statute focuses on whether the act is lawful and authorized.
Supporting sources
The statute expressly authorizes an agent to do any lawful act concerning the subject property. That grant confirms the agent's conduct qualifies as an actus legitimus when it stays within the statutory bounds.
Supporting sources
…to do that even if it wanted to do so"). Rather, Congress accepted the President's recognition determination as a completed, lawful act; and it proceeded to outline the trade and policy provisions that, in its judgment, were appropriate in light of that decision. This history confirms the Court's conclusion in the instant…