Parens patriae – From Latin: This phrase refers to a common law provision whereby the courts have the right to make unfettered decisions affecting these persoons who are at thiso time not able to take care of themselves and their own legal affairs. For example, the local court could be entitle by the Civil Law to make custody decisions regarding a child or an insane person; elseshere without local legislation to entitle the court to do so, based on their residual, common law-based parens patriae jurisdiction.