Clean Hands Doctrine Legal Meaning and Definition

Here is a simplified definition of the legal term Clean Hands Doctrine.

Clean Hands Doctrine (noun): A principle in law that requires a person to act ethically and honestly in order for their case to be heard by the court. This doctrine is used to deny relief to an individual who has acted in bad faith, misrepresented, or concealed the truth related to the subject matter of their claim. For example, in a divorce trial, if one party has hidden assets to decrease their contributions towards alimony, the court may refute their claims based on the clean hands doctrine.