Et Ux. Definition and Legal Meaning

On this page, you'll find the legal definition and meaning of Et Ux., written in plain English, along with examples of how it is used.

What is Et Ux.?

(et uhks) n. abbreviation for the Latin words et uxor meaning “and wife.” It is usually found in deeds, tax assessment rolls and other documents in the form “John Alden et ux.,” to show that the wife as well as the husband own property. The connotation that somehow the wife is merely an adjunct to her husband, as well as the modern concepts of joint tenancy, tenancy in common, community property where applicable and equal rights of the sexes have combined to make the expression a chauvinistic anachronism.

History and Meaning of Et Ux.

Et Ux is an abbreviation for the Latin phrase "et uxor," which means "and wife." It has been used for centuries in legal documents to signify that both the husband and wife own a certain piece of property. This was important because in the past, women often did not have the same rights as men and their ownership of property needed to be explicitly stated.

However, today, the use of Et Ux has become controversial. It is seen by some as a sexist anachronism because it implies that the wife is simply an extension of the husband rather than an independent individual with equal ownership and rights.

Examples of Et Ux.

  • John Doe et ux.: This would be used in a property deed to indicate that both John and his wife own the property.
  • Mary Smith et ux.: Used in a tax assessment roll to show that Mary and her husband jointly own a piece of land.
  • Jane Johnson et vir.: Similar to Et Ux but used to show that the husband is the one with legal ownership of the property, while the wife has no ownership rights.

Legal Terms Similar to Et Ux.

  • Et Vir: Latin for "and husband." It is similar to Et Ux but implies that the husband holds the legal ownership of the property.
  • Tenants in Common: Legal term referring to multiple owners having equal ownership of a property.
  • Joint Tenancy: Legal term for co-ownership where all owners have an equal right to the property.
  • Community Property: Legal term used in some states to indicate that marital property is owned equally by both spouses.