Forensic psychiatry has been defined by the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law as the “subspecialty of psychiatry in which scientific and clinical experience is applied to legal issues in legal contexts embracing civil, criminal, correctional or legislative matters.” In essence, forensic psychiatry can be understood as psychiatric consultation to lawyers and courts in order to assist in the resolution of legal issues wherein a person's mental state is of legal significance. In criminal law, examples include competency to stand trial and mental responsibility at the time of the offense (whether the defendant satisfies criteria for acquittal based on insanity). In civil law, a person's mental state can come into question when considering tort (civil wrong) claims based on emotional injury and various civil competencies such as competency to make out a will (testamentary competency).