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De Facto

Latin: as a matter of fact; something which, while not necessarily lawful, exists in fact.

Latin: as a matter of fact; something which, while not necessarily lawful or legally sanctified, exists in fact.

A common law spouse may be referred to a de facto wife or de facto husband: although not legally married, they live and carry-on their lives as if married.

A de facto government is one which has seized power by force or in any other unconstitutional method and governs in spite of the existence of a de jure government.

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Unless otherwise noted, this article was written by Lloyd Duhaime, Barrister, Solicitor, Attorney and Lawyer (and Notary Public!). It is not intended to be legal advice and you would be foolhardy to rely on it in respect to any specific situation you or an acquaintance may be facing. In addition, the law changes rapidly and sometimes with little notice so from time to time, an article may not be up to date. Therefore, this is merely legal information designed to educate the reader. If you have a real situation, this information will serve as a good springboard to get legal advice from a lawyer.

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