In reference to law, “mandatory” is used to indicate that something is required or obligatory.
Some common uses of the term “mandatory” in a legal sense include:
- Mandatory authority describes a source of law that is binding on the court, while a persuasive authority is a source of law that carries some authoritative weight but that the court is not required to follow.
- A mandatory injunction requires the performance of an act or course of conduct.
- Mandatory joinders require the inclusion of a party in a lawsuit.
- Mandatory power of appointment is the required exercise of the power of disposition given to a person over property not his own.
[Last updated in July of 2020 by the Wex Definitions Team]
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