A thing void ab initio is one that never went into effect.

Explanation

(English-origin maxim.) An act, contract, or proceeding that was void from its inception has no legal force at any point — it cannot be ratified, cured, or given effect by lapse of time.

Where this applies

• A court issues a judgment based on a complaint that was never properly served on the defendant, and the judgment is void ab initio because it never had legal force.
• A government agency was created by a statute that violated the state constitution, and all of the agency's actions since its creation are treated as having never occurred.
• A contract was signed by a person who had already been declared legally incompetent, so the agreement never went into effect and cannot be enforced.