Nunc pro tunc is a Latin expression in common legal use in the English language. It means now for then. In general, a court ruling nunc pro tunc applies retroactively to correct an earlier ruling.
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Legal definition
Nunc pro tunc is literally translated as "now for then" meaning that "a judgment is entered, or document enrolled, so as to have the same legal force and effect as if it had been entered or enrolled on an earlier day." The order originated from the Court of Chancery from 1388. In 1805 the Lord Chancellor, Lord Eldon, said "The Court will enter a Decree nunc pro tunc, if satisfied from its own official documents, that it is only doing now what it would have done then."
Nunc pro tunc is a phrase which theoretically applies to acts that are allowed to be done after the time expires. In the probate of an estate, if real property, such as lands, mineral interests, etc., are discovered after the final decree or order, a nunc pro tunc order can include these discovered lands or assets into the estate and clarify how they were meant to be distributed.
Corporate application
A corporation may have been created by an individual, but since a corporation, in the United States, has the standing in law of a person (although not a natural person), it is possible for its human creator to go bankrupt and for the assets of the corporation to be seized to satisfy unpaid taxes. Then, if others bought the assets from the tax authority and the corporation shell passed into other hands, it is possible for the person who bought the assets to also buy the corporation shell and, after paying corporate franchise taxes, for that person to claim that the corporation is the original corporation with the original assets.
IRS application
Some taxpayers file returns or other documents with the Service that have the phrase “nunc pro tunc” stamped or written on the face of the return or document. These taxpayers assert that the phrase “nunc pro tunc” has some legal effect in reducing, eliminating, or altering in some way their federal income tax liability or other obligations under the tax laws. According to IRS Notice 2007-30, this is considered a "frivolous" position and is subject to $5,000 fine. Inserting the phrase “nunc pro tunc” or similar arguments on a return or other document submitted to the Service has no legal effect.
Litigation
A judgment nunc pro tunc is an action by a trial court correcting a clerical (rather than judicial) error in a prior judgment. A nunc pro tunc may be signed even after the trial court loses its plenary power. For appellate purposes, a nunc pro tunc judgment correctly taken ordinarily does not extend appellate deadlines.
Catholic Church
In the Catholic Church, a bishop's resignation is often accepted by the Holy See nunc pro tunc, which means it is tentatively accepted, but the Pope needs some time to locate and appoint a replacement for that diocese. The announcement of the new appointment is usually accompanied by actual acceptance of the outgoing bishop's resignation.