Time & Limitations

Every plaint and every action for injuries is limited within certain times.

Omnis querela et omnis actio injuriarum limitata est infra certa tempora.

Source: Co. Litt. 114; Jackson; Weisman, 75l

All legal actions are subject to limitation periods — the law requires claims to be brought within a reasonable time to prevent stale demands and preserve certainty.

Time is the devourer of things; for time is a means of destroying obligations and actions, because time runs against the slothful and those who neglect their own rights.

Tempus est edax rerum; tempus enim modus tollendi obligationes et actiones, quia tempus currit contra desides et sui juris contemptores.

Source: Bract. fols. 100b, 101; Fleta, lib. 1, c. 4, s. 5, §12

He who sleeps on his rights may lose them — the passage of time is the law's penalty for inaction.

A day begun is held as complete.

Dies inceptus pro completo habetur.

Source: Black's Law Dictionary, 4th ed., 367; 2 Bulstr. 305; Weisman, 100c

For legal purposes, a day is indivisible — once begun, it is reckoned as if fully elapsed.

An uncertain day is held as a condition.

Dies incertus pro conditione habetur.

Source: Black's Law Dictionary, 4th ed., 367; cf. Dig. 36, 2, 5; Weisman, 100d

Where an obligation is fixed to a day that may or may not arrive, the day is treated as a condition precedent — the obligation does not mature until the uncertain event occurs.

Distinguish times, and you will harmonize the laws.

Tempora distingue, et concordabis leges.

Source: 1 Co. 24; Branch, Princ.

Laws that appear contradictory may simply belong to different eras — understanding when each was enacted resolves the apparent conflict.