Pecuniary is a term used to describe something of monetary value. It is mainly used in the context of legal proceedings or to refer to a payment or transfer of funds. In the legal field, pecuniary is typically used in two contexts: damages or compensation awarded to a person, and a financial responsibility or obligation.
Pecuniary Damages and Compensations
In the context of legal proceedings, particularly in a civil suit, pecuniary damages refer to an amount of money awarded to a successful litigant or plaintiff for losses suffered from the other party. This could range from reimbursement for medical bills to lost wages, or in the case of someone whose emotional well-being has been impacted, compensation for mental anguish.
Financial Responsibility and Obligations
In business, pecuniary is often used to refer to responsibility or obligations related to financial matters. For example, when a parent cosigns a loan for their child, they take on a pecuniary responsibility in the event that the loan is not repaid. This means that the parent is obligated to repay the loan themselves should their child default.
The term pecuniary is often used in legal or business documents to indicate that a party is obligated to provide or be responsible for a payment or transaction.