Define: Legal Person

A legal person is a non-human entity that is recognised by law as having legal rights and responsibilities similar to those of a natural person (i.e., a human being). Legal persons can enter into contracts, own property, sue and be sued, and engage in legal transactions just like individuals. Examples of legal persons include corporations, government entities, nonprofit organizations, partnerships, and trusts. While legal persons do not possess physical attributes like humans, they are granted legal personality by statute or common law, allowing them to participate in legal proceedings and conduct business activities. The concept of legal personhood enables entities to operate in the legal system, enter into legal relationships, and be held accountable for their actions under the law.

A legal person, also called a juridical person or juristic person, is a legal entity through which the law allows a group of natural persons to act as if they were a single composite individual for certain purposes, or in some jurisdictions, for a single person to have a separate legal personality other than their own. This legal fiction does not mean these entities are human beings, but rather means that the law allows them to act as persons for certain limited purposes—most commonly lawsuits, property ownership, and contracts. This concept is separate from and should not be confused with limited liability or the joint-stock principle. Also note that basic rights (like the rights to free speech and due process of law) do not necessarily follow from legal personhood. A legal person is sometimes called an artificial person or legal entity (although the latter is sometimes understood to include natural persons as well). Although the concept of a legal person is more central to Western law in both common law and civil law countries, it is also found in virtually every legal system.

In England and the United States, the use of this terminology does not mean that legal persons are considered human beings. It is simply a “technical legal meaning” in which “a ‘person’ is any subject of legal rights and duties.” Because these entities may have legal rights and duties, they are considered ‘legal persons’ to distinguish them from natural persons.

This site contains general legal information but does not constitute professional legal advice for your particular situation. Persuing this glossary does not create an attorney-client or legal adviser relationship. If you have specific questions, please consult a qualified attorney licensed in your jurisdiction.

This glossary post was last updated: 11th April, 2024.