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Cornell Law School
law.cornell.edu › lii › wex › ab initio
ab initio | Wex | US Law | LII / Legal Information Institute
Ab initio is a Latin term that means "from the beginning” or “from inception.” Ab initio is used to indicate that some fact existed from the start of a relevant time period.
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Legal Choices
legalchoices.org.uk › home › law dictionary
What does Ab initio mean ? | Legal Choices dictionary
Definition of Ab initio. Latin phrase - From the start of something. If a court rules that something is in effect ab inito it means the ruling applies from when the act took place and not when the court made the decision.

Latin term meaning "from the beginning"

Ab initio (/ˌæb ɪˈnɪʃioʊ/ AB in-ISH-ee-oh) is a Latin term meaning "from the beginning" and is derived from the Latin ab ("from") + initio, ablative singular of initium ("beginning"). Ab initio was … Wikipedia
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Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Ab_initio
Ab initio - Wikipedia
4 days ago - Ab initio (/ˌæb ɪˈnɪʃioʊ/ ... including the following: In law, ab initio refers to something being the case from the start or from the instant of the act rather than from when the court declared it so....
People also ask

Why is ab initio important in contract law?
It ensures that agreements violating legal principles are nullified entirely, protecting parties from unfair or illegal obligations.
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upcounsel.com
upcounsel.com › ab-initio-definition-law
Check out this article...Ab Initio Meaning in Law: Definition, ...
What are the consequences of a contract being deemed ab initio?
When a contract is deemed void ab initio, it is considered null and void from the beginning. This means that neither party can enforce the terms of the contract, and any obligations or rights arising from the contract are extinguished.
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clio.com
clio.com › resources › legal dictionary
Ab Initio | Legal Dictionary | Clio
What are examples of void ab initio contracts?
Contracts formed under duress, fraud, illegality, or lack of capacity are void ab initio.
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upcounsel.com
upcounsel.com › ab-initio-definition-law
Check out this article...Ab Initio Meaning in Law: Definition, ...
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UpCounsel
upcounsel.com › ab-initio-definition-law
Check out this article...Ab Initio Meaning in Law: Definition, Usage, and Examples
Ab Initio Meaning: A Latin term meaning "from the beginning" or "from inception." A contract void ab initio is treated as though it never existed. Abuse of Rights: Legal rights can be revoked if they are abused, leading to the wrongful conduct ...
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PracticePanther
practicepanther.com › home › legal terms › ab initio
Ab Initio | PracticePanther
December 15, 2020 - In the legal context, the Latin term “ab initio” refers to something (for example a fact, an act, a document) that was present from the beginning. It is often used as part of the phrase “void ab initio,” meaning something — such as ...
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Justia
dictionary.justia.com › ab initio
ab initio Definition, Meaning & Usage | Justia Legal Dictionary
ab initio - A Latin term in law indicating something was legal or in effect from the very beginning
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Clio
clio.com › resources › legal dictionary
Ab Initio | Legal Dictionary | Clio
Ab Initio is a Latin term commonly used in the legal field to refer to something that is considered from the beginning or from the start. In a legal context, it ofte...
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Westlaw
content.next.westlaw.com › Glossary › PracticalLaw › I41334c8d07ef11ebbea4f0dc9fb69570
Glossary | Practical Law - Legal Resources & Know-How for Professionals
Enter to open, tab to navigate, enter to select · US Home Global Home NEW · Contact Us · Training and support · 1-800-WESTLAW (1-800-937-8529)
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The Law Dictionary
thelawdictionary.org › the law dictionary › articles › contracts
Why Ab Initio Is a Big Deal in Contract Law
July 20, 2022 - As stated above, ab initio means “from the start.” Therefore, if a court declares something to be the case ab initio, it typically means that the court’s ruling on it applies from when an act occurred or when the circumstances for the ...
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TheFreeDictionary.com
legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com › ab+initio
Ab initio legal definition of ab initio
Collins Dictionary of Law © W.J. Stewart, 2006 · AB INITIO, from the beginning. 2. When a man enters upon lands or into the house of another by authority of law, and afterwards abuses that authority, he becomes a trespasser ab initio.
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Termscout
resources.termscout.com › contract-insights › ab-initio
What Is Ab Initio in Law? - Contract Intelligence Resources
September 4, 2025 - In business, it applies to data analysis, decision-making, and problem-solving that starts without bias. In law, ab initio is used to describe contracts, clauses, or agreements that are considered invalid or void from the beginning.
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Gatekeeper
gatekeeperhq.com › glossary › ab-initio
Ab Initio - Definition
If a contract is "Void Ab Initio", for example, it means it was void from the beginning and cannot be altered. Gatekeeper makes it easy to search for this terminology in your contracts through its powerful OCR technology.
Published   October 16, 2025
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Sklaw
sklaw.au › home › dictionary › ab initio
Ab initio - Law Dictionary
November 15, 2023 - Ab initio is a Latin term, meaning: “from the beginning”. It refers to something being the case from the start, or from the instant a certain act was performed. In the context of contract law, a contract may be “void ab initio”. This ...
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Legal Explanations
legal-explanations.com › definition › ab-initio
Ab Initio Definition and Legal Meaning
Latin phrase meaning “from the ... is void ab initio then it stands null and void from the very beginning of its intended existence and not just from the instant its declared as void....
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YouTube
youtube.com › watch
Legal term, definition, Ab initio - YouTube
Legal term, #definition , #Ab_initioAb initio is a Latin term that means "from the beginning” or “from inception.” Ab initio is used to indicate that some fa...
Published   November 18, 2023
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Thomson Reuters
uk.practicallaw.thomsonreuters.com › w-005-6326
Ab initio | Practical Law
Latin term meaning "from the beginning". It is commonly used to refer to the circumstances in which a contract may be or be declared to be void as from the time when it was made.
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RunSensible
runsensible.com › dictionary of legal terms › ab initio
Ab Initio - RunSensible
December 8, 2023 - "Ab initio" is a Latin term that means "from the beginning" or "from the outset." In the context of law, it signifies that a contract or action is void from
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USLegal
definitions.uslegal.com › a › ab-initio
Ab Initio Law and Legal Definition | USLegal, Inc.
Browse US Legal Forms’ largest database of 85k state and industry-specific legal forms. ... Ab initio is a Latin term meaning "from the beginning". For example, if something is said to be void ab initio, the thing was never created or valid to begin with.
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Cambridge Dictionary
dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › english › ab-initio
AB INITIO | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary
The legal position was that any contract entered into beyond the power, or "ultra vires", would be deemed void "ab initio".
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LSD.Law
lsd.law › define › ab-initio
ab initio definition · LSData
Navigate law school with LSD.Law. Access application tracking, admission data, school rankings, case briefs, a simple legal dictionary, and more. Trusted by 175k+ users.