Dispozicion

Dispozicion, often written disposición in Spanish and disposição in Portuguese, is a noun found in Iberian languages that traces to Latin dispositio, meaning the act of placing in order. The term has several related senses, spanning everyday usage, temperament, and legal language.

In general usage, disposición denotes the act or result of arranging things in a determined order. This includes the layout or configuration of objects, spaces, or data, as in the disposition of furniture, the arrangement of seats, or the organization of materials.

In the realm of temperament and willingness, disposición refers to a person’s mental state or inclination. A person can be praised for a “buena disposición” to help or cooperate, or described as having a certain disposition or temperament.

In legal and administrative contexts, disposición often means a provision or clause within a law, contract, will, or regulatory text. Examples include disposiciones fiscales, disposiciones finales, or disposiciones transitorias. It can also denote the act of disposing of property or the distribution of assets, especially in inheritance or estate planning, such as la disposición de bienes or disposiciones testamentarias.

Across jurisdictions, the precise use and nuance of disposición vary by legal tradition and language. In statutory drafting, disposiciones are the individual rules or articles that constitute a code or act, and they are typically enumerated and cited within the text.

Etymology traces disposition to Latin dispositio, from disponere, meaning to arrange or put in order. See also disponer, disposición (cognate terms in related languages).