Jactitation - Definition - Law Dictionary Home Dictionary Definition jactitation

Definition :

Jactitation [fr. jactito, Lat., to boast], a false pretension to marriage, Canon Law.

The suit of actitation of marriage (jactitationis matri-monii causa), though a rare proceeding, may still be brought in the Divorce Court by the express terms of the (English) Matrimonial Causes Act,1857 (20 & 21 Vict. c. 85), s. 6 (replaced by (English) Judicature Act, 1925, s. 21), when a person falsely boasts that he or she is married to another whereby a reputation of their marriage may ensue. The party injured sues for the purpose of having perpetual silence enjoined upon the unjustifiable boaster. See Thompson v. Rourke, 1893 P. 70.