Civil death
Civil death: The loss of civil rights and legal capacities while a person is still alive. Black's Law Dictionary (2d ed. 1910) describes it as "that change in a person's legal and civil condition which deprives him of civic rights and juridical capacities and qualifications, as natural death extinguishes his natural condition." At common law it followed attainder, that is, a sentence of death or outlawry for treason or felony. Later, some American states applied it by statute to people sentenced to life imprisonment. For example, New York Civil Rights Law § 79-a(1) still provides that "a person sentenced to imprisonment for life is thereafter deemed civilly dead." Rhode Island's similar statute, R.I. Gen. Laws § 13-6-1, was held unconstitutional in its entirety in Zab v. Rhode Island Department of Corrections, 269 A.3d 741 (R.I. 2022). Today, a conviction more often brings specific "collateral consequences," such as loss of voting or firearm rights, rather than full civil death.
What civil death means
Put simply, civil death is part of the working vocabulary of a civil case. The short definition above covers the usual meaning. Still, a specific rule, statute or contract can give it a narrower meaning. For that reason, check how it is used in your own documents.
Where civil death comes up
The term is used across many kinds of cases. For example, you may see it in pleadings, motions and court orders. To see it in context, browse the motions and procedures library or the Learn the Law topics.
Read the source: N.Y. Civil Rights Law § 79-a.
How to research the term
Start with the primary source. For example, if civil death appears in a federal rule, read the rule itself and its official notes. After that, check your court’s local rules and any standing orders from the judge. In addition, search recent decisions from your own state or federal district. They show how courts read civil death in practice. Because state rules often differ, our state procedures guide links to each state’s official rules. Above all, make sure the version you read is still in force.
You can read the current federal court rules online for free.
Related legal terms
- Chattel: an item of personal property, meaning property other than land and buildings. Cars, furniture, livestock and equipment are chattels. Under UCC Article 9, a security interest in chattels is called a security interest in goods, and "chattel paper" is a record showing both a debt and a security interest in specific goods.
- Chevron deference: a former doctrine, from Chevron U.S.A.
- Church: a religious body or congregation and, in law, the organization through which it holds property and runs its affairs.
- Citizen: a member of a nation or state who owes it allegiance and is entitled to its protection. Under the Fourteenth Amendment, all persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to its jurisdiction, are citizens of the United States and of the state where they reside.
Why precise terms matter
Legal words often look like everyday words, but they can carry a precise meaning. Because of that, a small misreading can change how you understand a deadline, a duty or a right. Our glossary keeps each definition short and links it to the procedures where it matters.
Sources
Sources last reviewed: 2026-10-24
Lawtopolis provides legal information and education, not legal advice. Using this site does not create an attorney-client relationship. Laws and court rules vary by jurisdiction and change over time; verify every authority against the official source and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction about your situation.