ab initio - Meaning

Definition

Latin for "from the beginning."

As a legal term 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.

This term is used by lawyers intent upon getting their money's worth from a liberal arts education by uttering such statements as "The judge was against me ab initio."

A judicial declaration of the invalidity of a marriage ab initio is a nullity.