in personam

American  

[in per-soh-nam] / ɪn pərˈsoʊ næm /

adverb

Law.

1. (of a legal proceeding or judgment) directed against a party or parties, rather than against property.

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in personam British  

/ ɪn pɜːˈsəʊnæm /

adjective

1. law (of a judicial act) directed against a specific person or persons Compare in rem

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Etymology

Origin of in personam

Borrowed into English from Latin around 1880–85

Example Sentences

But in 1906 the Court discovered, by a vote of five-to-four, a situation in which a divorce proceeding is one in personam.

From The Constitution of the United States of America: Analysis and Interpretation Annotations of Cases Decided by the Supreme Court of the United States to June 30, 1952 by Corwin, Edward Samuel

Such a proceeding is, either in form or substance, one not in personam but in rem.

From The American Judiciary by Baldwin, Simeon E., LLD

But he points out, "If the treaty only created a right in personam the case is different."

From Neutral Rights and Obligations in the Anglo-Boer War by Campbell, Robert Granville

An action in personam asserts a right only against a particular person.

From The Project Gutenberg Encyclopedia Volume 1 of 28 by Project Gutenberg

Historically the jurisdiction of courts to render judgments in personam is grounded on their de facto power over the defendant's person.

From The Constitution of the United States of America: Analysis and Interpretation Annotations of Cases Decided by the Supreme Court of the United States to June 30, 1952 by Corwin, Edward Samuel