full faith and credit

noun

Legal Definition of full faith and credit

: the recognition and enforcement of the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of one state by another — compare choice of law, comity, federalism

Note: Unlike comity, full faith and credit is a requirement created by the U.S. Constitution and the U.S. Code. A public law or a judicial decision may not, however, be entitled to full faith and credit for specific reasons (as for having been decided by a court not having jurisdiction). Full faith and credit is given only in civil cases; states recognize each other's criminal laws through the mechanism of extradition.

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Dictionary Entries near full faith and credit

full age

full bench

full court

full faith and credit

full faith and credit clause

full interdiction

full reporting clause

Cite this Entry

“Full faith and credit.” Merriam-Webster.com Legal Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/legal/full%20faith%20and%20credit. Accessed 1 Mar. 2021.

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