Legal Finality
Definition
Section titled “Definition”Legal Finality is the state in which a legal responsibility, obligation, or determination becomes practically irreversible within the governing process.
Operational meaning
Section titled “Operational meaning”After legal finality is reached, reopening or reversal is no longer available through ordinary procedural means, even if disagreement persists.
Legal finality may occur through judgment, settlement, lapse of contestability, or procedural closure.
Relationship to Irreversible State
Section titled “Relationship to Irreversible State”Legal finality represents an irreversible state within legal systems.
It often depends on earlier irreversible conditions, including evidence finality and acceptance finality.
Not moral certainty.
Not factual infallibility.
Not universal across all jurisdictions.