Cognovit

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Cognovit \Cog*no"vit\, n. [L., he has acknowledged.] (Law)
     An instrument in writing whereby a defendant in an action
     acknowledges a plaintiff's demand to be just. --Mozley & W.
     [1913 Webster]

From Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856) [bouvier]:



  COGNOVIT, contr. leading. A written confession of an action by a defendant, 
  subscribed but not sealed, and authorizing the plaintiff to sign judgment 
  and issue execution, usually for a sum named. 
       2. It is given after the action is brought to save expense. 
       3. It differs from a warrant of attorney, which is given before the 
  commencement of any action, and is under seal. A cognovit actionem is an 
  acknowledgment and confession of the plaintiff's cause of action against the 
  defendant to be just and true. Vide 3 Ch. Pr. 664; 3 Bouv. Inst. n. 8299.