Lat Properly, volition, purpose, or intention, or a design or the feeling or impulse which prompts the commission of an act; but in old English law the term was often used to denote a will, that Is, the last will and testament of a decedent more properly called testamentum . Voluntas donatoris in charta doni sui manifeste expressa observetur. Co. Litt. 21. The will of the donor manifestly expressed in his deed of gift is to be observed. Voluntas est jnsta sententia de eo quod quis post mortem suam fieri velit. A will Is an exact opinion or determination concerning that which each one wishes to be done after his death. Voluntas et propositum distinguunt maleficia. The will and the proposed end distinguish crimes. Bract, fols. 2b, 136b. Voluntas facit quod in testamento scriptum valeat. Dig. 30, 1, 12, 3. It is intention which gives effect to the wording of a will. Voluntas in delictis, non exitus spec* tatur. 2 Inst 57. In crimes, the will, and not the consequence , is looked to. Voluntas repntatur pro facto. The intention is to be taken for the deed. 3 lust 69 ; Broom, Max. 311. Voluntas testatoris est ambulatoria usque ad extremum vitae exitum. 4 Coke, 61. The will of a testator is ambulatory until the latest moment of life. Voluntas testatoris babet interpreta- tionem latam et benignam. Jenk. Cent. 260. The intention of a testator has a broad and benignant interpretation . Voluntas ultima testatoris est perim- plenda secundum veram intentionem suam. Co. Litt. 322. The last will of the les.ator is to be fulfilled according to his true intention.
Black’s Law Online Dictionary
