When many join in one act, the law will construe it as the act of him who could best accomplish it.

Explanation

(English-origin maxim.) Where several persons participate in a single transaction, the law attributes the act to the party with the authority or capacity to perform it, such as the grantor in a deed or the officer with jurisdiction.

Where this applies

• A husband and wife both sign a deed conveying property, but only the wife actually owns the land — the law treats the deed as her act since she is the one with authority to convey.
• Three corporate officers co-sign a contract, but only the CEO has authority under the bylaws to bind the company — the contract is construed as the CEO's act.
• A notary, a witness, and a grantor all participate in executing a deed, but the act of conveyance is attributed to the grantor because only he had the power to transfer.