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Good faith (or, in [[Latin]], ''bona fides'') is a term used in the [[law]] to designate the mental and moral state of honest, even if objectively unfounded, conviction as to the truth or falsehood of a proposition or body of opinion, or as to the rectitude or depravity of a line of conduct. 

One who acts in good faith, so far as the violation of positive law, or even, in certain junctures, of [[natural law]], is concerned, is said to labor under an invincible error, and hence to be [[guilt]]less. This consideration is not unfrequently applied to determine the degree of right or obligation prevailing in the various forms of human engagements, such as [[contract]]s and the [[Law of Obligations]]. 

In the matter of [[prescription]] it is held to be an indispensable requirement whether there be question of acquiring dominion or freeing oneself from a burden. Likewise, in deciding the [[duty]] incumbent upon one who finds himself in possession of another's [[property]], cognizance is taken of the good faith with which perchance the holding began and was accompanied.

====References====
* Adapted from the [[Wikipedia]] article, "Good faith" http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Good_faith September 5, 2003