Free US Law Dictionary

Act of God

Act of God or act of nature is a legal term[1] for events outside of human control, such as sudden floods or other natural disasters, for which no one can be held responsible. This does not protect those who put others in danger of acts of God through negligence, such as an adult who instructs a group of children to stand under a tree to escape a lightning storm.

The legal term, "Act of God", does not necessarily imply that God had a direct intervention which specifically caused a "natural" occurance or disaster.