legal memory

American  

noun

Law.

1. a period of time, now usually established by statute, during which custom, conduct, or a state of affairs must have existed or continued in order for it to have taken on the force of law or to establish a legal right or title not otherwise provable.

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Etymology

Origin of legal memory

First recorded in 1760–70

Example Sentences

Perry, the publicity campaign to shape the cultural and legal memory of their effort continues.

From New York Times • Jun. 29, 2014

This is a cause of thorough orthodox equity standing, having commenced before the time of legal memory, with every prospect of obtaining a final decree on its merits somewhere about the next Greek Kalends.

From Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 1, August 21, 1841 by Various