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

Tutius est pignori incumbere quam in personam agere.

From Project Gutenberg

Our process must be in rem, not in personam.

From Project Gutenberg

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

From Project Gutenberg

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

From Project Gutenberg

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 Project Gutenberg