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procurators

Procurator is a historical and legal term used for a person authorized to act on behalf of another in a range of duties, most notably the prosecution of crimes or the management of someone’s affairs. The word derives from Latin procurator, meaning “one who pursues or manages for another.” In modern English usage, it often designates a public prosecutor or government attorney, but its precise meaning varies by jurisdiction.

Historically, in the Roman Empire a procurator was a provincial official responsible for finances and tax collection,

In contemporary civil-law jurisdictions, procurator-like offices are common. Examples include France (Procureur de la République, the

The role can also refer to an attorney-in-fact or guardian who acts on behalf of another in

In ecclesiastical or royal contexts, procurators have been officials who collect revenues or manage assets on

Today, the English term “procurator” is rare outside official titles; most jurisdictions use “prosecutor” or “public

and
sometimes
for
legal
matters
in
the
governor’s
name.
The
title
spread
through
medieval
and
early
modern
Europe,
where
procurators
functioned
as
agents,
legal
representatives,
or
administrators
for
individuals,
estates,
or
institutions.
public
prosecutor),
Italy
(Procuratore
della
Repubblica,
head
of
the
public
prosecutor’s
office
at
a
given
court),
and
the
English
translations
used
for
Brazil
(Procurador
da
República)
and
Portugal
(Procurador
da
República)
within
their
public
prosecution
services.
The
role
generally
entails
representing
the
state
or
public
interest
in
court
proceedings
and
overseeing
investigations.
civil
matters
(e.g.,
handling
property,
contracts,
or
estates).
This
use
is
distinct
from
the
prosecutorial
function
and
reflects
the
broader
sense
of
agency
implied
by
procurator.
behalf
of
a
church,
crown,
or
religious
organization.
This
usage
is
historical
in
many
places
and
not
uniform
today.
prosecutor”
to
describe
the
government
lawyer
who
brings
criminal
charges,
while
“procurator”
may
appear
in
official
names
or
translations
of
foreign
offices.