A term of the civil law, meaning “a right to a thing;” that is, a right exercisable by one person over a particular article of property in virtue of a contract or obligation incurred by another person in respect to it and which is enforceable only against or through such other person. It is thus distinguished from jus in re, which is a complete and absolute dominion over a thing available against all persons.
The disposition of modern writers is to use the term jus ad rem” as deacriptive of a right without possession, and “jus in re” as descriptive of a right accompanied by possession. Or. in a somewhat wider sense, the former denotes an inchoate.or incomplete right to a thing; the latter, a complete and perfect right to a thing. See The Carlos F. Roses, 177 U. S. 655, 20 Sup. Ct 803, 44 L. Ed. 929; The Young Mechanic, 30 Fed. Cas. 873.
In canon law. A right to a thing. An Inchoate and imperfect right, such as is gained by nomination and Institution; as distinguished from jus in re, or complete and full right such as is acquired by corporal possession. 2 Bl. Comm. 312.