attornatus
Quick Summary
The term "attornatus" originates from Anglo-Norman law and refers to a representative of a party in litigation. Initially, an attornatus was simply someone who represented a party in court. However, this role evolved to become more significant, particularly in the formation of certain contracts that required a judicial proceeding. In this context, the attornatus acted as a general agent, representing one of the parties involved in the court-prescribed manner of contract formation. This development in English law contributed to the broader doctrine of principal and agent.1
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