Texas Court Reporter Practice Exam

What does "ipso facto" mean?

1. By chance

2. By the act or fact itself

3. By association

4. By design

The correct answer is: By the act or fact itself

The term "ipso facto" comes from Latin and translates to "by the act or fact itself." In legal and formal discussions, this phrase is often used to indicate that something is an inevitable result of the situation at hand. For instance, if one party's breach of contract causes another party to be in breach as a direct result of the first party’s actions, it can be said that the second party is "ipso facto" in breach. This understanding underlines the principle that certain outcomes are intrinsically connected to specific actions or situations without needing further evidence to establish that connection. In contrast, the other choices do not capture the precise legal nuance of immediate consequence or inherent connection that "ipso facto" encompasses.