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Terms
Ab Absurdo
Latin: an evidentiary suggestion or statutory interpretation that is, or leads to, an absurdity.
Expanded Legal Definition of Ab Absurdo

Abatement
A reduction in some amount that is owed, usually granted by the person to whom the debt is owed. In the law of torts, the summary removal of a nuisance.
Expanded Legal Definition of Abatement

Abbacinare
A barbaric form of corporal punishment meted out in the middle ages where persons would be permanently blinded by the pressing of hot irons to the open eyes.
Expanded Legal Definition of Abbacinare

Abduction
To take someone away from a place without that person's consent, or by fraud.
Expanded Legal Definition of Abduction

Aberemurder
A spontaneous and gratuitous murder.
Expanded Legal Definition of Aberemurder

Abet
Encouraging or inciting another to do a certain thing, such as a crime.
Expanded Legal Definition of Abet

Ab Initio
Latin: from the start; from the beginning.
Expanded Legal Definition of Ab Initio

Aboriginal
Pertaining to things or land or person or members of a race, which are indigenous to, or first occupied a specified territory.
Expanded Legal Definition of Aboriginal

Absolute
Final, perfected, complete and unconditional.
Expanded Legal Definition of Absolute

Absolute Discharge
A sentence of a person guilty of a crime in which the accused is deemed to have not been convicted; no criminal record issues as regards the offense for which an absolute discharge is granted.
Expanded Legal Definition of Absolute Discharge

Absolute Liability
Offences in which it is not open to a person to avoid liability on the ground that she or he acted under a reasonable mistake of fact which, if the facts had been as the accused believed them to be, would have made his act innocent.
Expanded Legal Definition of Absolute Liability

Absolute Privilege
An absolute defence to an otherwise defamatory statement because of the venue or context which the statement was made.
Expanded Legal Definition of Absolute Privilege

Acceleration Clause
A clause in a contract that states that if a payment is missed, or some other default occurs (such as the debtor becoming insolvent), then the contract is fully due immediately.
Expanded Legal Definition of Acceleration Clause

Acceptance
The final and unequivocal expression of assent to another's offer to contract.
Expanded Legal Definition of Acceptance

Access
A non-custodian parent's bundle of rights or times and days during which he/she has exclusive time with the child of the separated parents.
Expanded Legal Definition of Access

Accord and Satisfaction
The act of one party, having complied with its contractual obligation, accepting some type of compensation from the other party (usually money and of a lesser value) in lieu of enforcing the contract and holding the other party to their original obligation.
Expanded Legal Definition of Accord and Satisfaction

Accounts
The written, detailed or summary, record of a person's managament or administration of an estate or of a particular matter.
Expanded Legal Definition of Accounts

Accretion
The addition to land by the action of water.
Expanded Legal Definition of Accretion

Acquiescence
Action or inaction which binds a person legally even though it was not intended as such.
Expanded Legal Definition of Acquiescence

Acquittal
A decision by a judge that a person accused of a crime is not guilty.
Expanded Legal Definition of Acquittal

Act
A bill which has passed through the various legislative steps required for it and which has become law.
Expanded Legal Definition of Act

Act of God
An event which is caused solely by the effect of nature or natural causes and without any interference by humans whatsoever.
Expanded Legal Definition of Act of God

Actual Total Loss
Property that is completely destroyed, or lost and irretrievable; a term of insurance and maritime law.
Expanded Legal Definition of Actual Total Loss

Actus Reus
Latin: a prohibited act.
Expanded Legal Definition of Actus Reus

Actus Reus Non Facit Reum Nisi Mens Sit Rea
Latin: conviction of a crime requires proof of a criminal act and intent.
Expanded Legal Definition of Actus Reus Non Facit Reum Nisi Mens Sit Rea

Ad Colligendum Bona
A person appointed by Court order and for the limited and sole purpose of collecting, inventorizing and preserving the assets of the deceased until another administrator can be found or appointed.
Expanded Legal Definition of Ad Colligendum Bona

Ad Damnum
Latin: refers to the parts or sections of a Court application that speaks to the damages that were allegedly suffered and claimed by the plaintiff.
Expanded Legal Definition of Ad Damnum

Addendum
An attachment to a written document.
Expanded Legal Definition of Addendum

Ademption
When property identified in a will cannot be given to the beneficiary because it no longer belonged to the deceased at the time of death.
Expanded Legal Definition of Ademption

Adhesion Contract
A fine-print consumer form contract which is generally given to consumers at point-of-sale, with no opportunity for negotiation as to it's terms, and which, typically, sets out the terms and conditions of the sale to advantage the seller.
Expanded Legal Definition of Adhesion Contract

Ad Hoc
Latin: for this purpose; for a specific purpose.
Expanded Legal Definition of Ad Hoc

Ad Infinitum
Latin: forever; without limit; indefinitely.
Expanded Legal Definition of Ad Infinitum

Adjective Law
Procedural law.
Expanded Legal Definition of Adjective Law

Adjourn
The postponement, suspension and interruption of an ongoing hearing or meeting to resume at some future date; to break off for later resumption.
Expanded Legal Definition of Adjourn

Ad Litem
Latin: for the suit.
Expanded Legal Definition of Ad Litem

Adminiculum
Latin: some evidence tendered to support something else
Expanded Legal Definition of Adminiculum

Administrative Law
That body of law which applies for hearings before quasi-judicial or quasi-judicial organizations such as administrative tribunals, or the underlying regulatory agency.
Expanded Legal Definition of Administrative Law

Administrative Tribunal
Hybrid adjudicating authorities which render judicial decisions.
Expanded Legal Definition of Administrative Tribunal

Administrator
A person who manages (administers) the assets of another, such as an estate administrator or the administrator of an insurance plan.
Expanded Legal Definition of Administrator

Admiralty
Law or judicial body having to do with, or jurisdiction over, shipping and use of the sea.
Expanded Legal Definition of Admiralty

Adoption
To take as one's own.
Expanded Legal Definition of Adoption

Adoption of Convenience
An adoption of a child not for the sake of the child but to the convenience, usually financial, of the adopting parent(s).
Expanded Legal Definition of Adoption of Convenience

ADR
Abbreviation for alternative dispute resolution.
Expanded Legal Definition of ADR

Adult
An individual who has reached, or is over the age of majority.
Expanded Legal Definition of Adult

Adult Child
A son or daughter who has reached the age of majority.
Expanded Legal Definition of Adult Child

Adultery
Voluntary sexual intercourse between a married person and another person who is not their married spouse.
Expanded Legal Definition of Adultery

Adult Interdependent Partner
A statutory term for individuals within a common-law relationship.
Expanded Legal Definition of Adult Interdependent Partner

Adverse Possession
The possession of land, without legal title, for a period of time sufficient to become recognized as legal owner.
Expanded Legal Definition of Adverse Possession

Adverse Witness
The right of a party calling a witness to show that the witness made a prior inconsistent statement.
Expanded Legal Definition of Adverse Witness

Affiant
A person that is sworn to an affidavit; who gives evidence by way of an affidavit.
Expanded Legal Definition of Affiant

Affidavit
A statement which before being signed, the person signing takes an oath that the contents are, to the best of their knowledge, true.
Expanded Legal Definition of Affidavit

Affirmative Action
A reverse discrimination law, program or activity that has as its object the amelioration of conditions of individuals who are socially or economically disadvantaged.
Expanded Legal Definition of Affirmative Action

Affray
A fight between two or more persons in a public place so as to cause terror to the public.
Expanded Legal Definition of Affray

Affreightment
A transportation contract whereby a transportation company, shipowner or operator agrees to carry goods in return for a sum of money, the sum being paid called freight.
Expanded Legal Definition of Affreightment

Agenda
A term of parliamentary law and procedure referring to a program, written notice and order of business at an upcoming meeting.
Expanded Legal Definition of Agenda

Agent
A person who has received the power to act on behalf of another, binding that other person as if he or she were themselves making the decisions.
Expanded Legal Definition of Agent

Age of Majority
An age generally specified by statute, at which time, upon an individual is given the full gamut of legal rights and responsibilities generally available to an adult of sound mind.
Expanded Legal Definition of Age of Majority

Aggravated Damages
Damages awarded by a court to reflect the exceptional harm done to a plaintiff of a tort action.
Expanded Legal Definition of Aggravated Damages

Agnatio
Latin: members of a group having a common male ancestor.
Expanded Legal Definition of Agnatio

Agreement in Principle
An agreement as to the terms of some future contract.
Expanded Legal Definition of Agreement in Principle

Aircraft
An object used for flight through the air.
Expanded Legal Definition of Aircraft

Air Law
The law of aircraft, their passengers and cargo, and their transit above states and other governed territory.
Expanded Legal Definition of Air Law

Air of Reality Test
A pre-requisite test against which a proposed defence to a criminal charge is weighed; that any proposed defence must at least have an evidential foundation.
Expanded Legal Definition of Air of Reality Test

Aleatory Contract
Civil law: a contract which depends on an uncertain event.
Expanded Legal Definition of Aleatory Contract

Alia Enormia
Latin: The catch-all phrase in trespass pleadings to refer to all such other harms and damages that may have been caused by the alleged trespasser other than those specified.
Expanded Legal Definition of Alia Enormia

Alibi
A defence to a criminal charge to the effect that the accused was elsewhere than at the scene of the alleged crime.
Expanded Legal Definition of Alibi

Alien
An individual citizen of a state but so characterized by and while in transit, working, residing or otherwise in the territory of another state.
Expanded Legal Definition of Alien

Alienate
To sell or give completely and without reserve; to transfer title to somebody else.
Expanded Legal Definition of Alienate

Alimony
An amount given to one spouse to another while they are separated.
Expanded Legal Definition of Alimony

Alliance
A military treaty between two or more states, providing for a mutually-planned offensive, or for assistance in the case of attack on any member.
Expanded Legal Definition of Alliance

Allodial
Land ownership that is unfettered, outright and absolute.
Expanded Legal Definition of Allodial

Allonge
A piece of paper which has been attached to a contract, a check or any promissory note, on which to add signatures because there is not enough room on the main document.
Expanded Legal Definition of Allonge

Alluvion
The gradual increase of land by the action of water such as by tides or currents.
Expanded Legal Definition of Alluvion

Alternative Dispute Resolution
Also known as 'ADR'; methods by which legal conflicts and disputes are resolved privately and other than through litigation in the public courts, usually through one of two forms: mediation or arbitration.
Expanded Legal Definition of Alternative Dispute Resolution

Alternative Measures
Canada; a much lighter disposition of a criminal charge regarding an adult accused who would be prepared to plead guilty and which does not result in a criminal record or incarceration but instead usually results in a mild penalty such as community service, an apology to the victim or counseling.
Expanded Legal Definition of Alternative Measures

Amalgamation
The merging of two things together to form one such as the amalgamation of different companies to form a single company.
Expanded Legal Definition of Amalgamation

Ambassador
A citizen that has been officially asked by their country to live in another country in order to legally represent it.
Expanded Legal Definition of Ambassador

Ambiguity
Where a word or phrase is capable of two or more meanings and which, in the context, raises doubt or uncertainty as to which is intended.
Expanded Legal Definition of Ambiguity

Ambulatory
Something which is not cast in stone; which can be changed or revoked, such as a will.
Expanded Legal Definition of Ambulatory

Amend
To change, to revise; to formally change a statement on the record or the wording of a written document, such as a statute.
Expanded Legal Definition of Amend

Amicus Curiae
Latin: friend of the court.
Expanded Legal Definition of Amicus Curiae

Amnesty
A general pardon extended by the government to those persons facing prosecution for, or convicted of specified criminal offences.
Expanded Legal Definition of Amnesty

Anarchy
Absence of law.
Expanded Legal Definition of Anarchy

Ancient Lights
An opening through which light has flowed uninterrupted for twenty years and which can, in some circumstances, support a claim for nuisance if blocked.
Expanded Legal Definition of Ancient Lights

Ancillary Relief
Secondary relief claimed by a litigant which is subordinate or subservient to a principal claim.
Expanded Legal Definition of Ancillary Relief

And/Or
Any combination of two options; one, the other (either), or both.
Expanded Legal Definition of And/Or

Animal
A creature or living thing, other than human, being able to move of its own accord.
Expanded Legal Definition of Animal

Animus Contrahendi
Latin: an intention to contract.
Expanded Legal Definition of Animus Contrahendi

Annulment
To make void forever; to cancel an event or judicial proceeding both retroactively and for the future so that in the eyes of the law, it never occurred.
Expanded Legal Definition of Annulment

Antedate
To date back; retroactively.
Expanded Legal Definition of Antedate

Antenuptial
An event or document which pre-dates a marriage.
Expanded Legal Definition of Antenuptial

Antichresis
Civil law: the pledge of real property as security for a debt.
Expanded Legal Definition of Antichresis

Anti-trust
Prohibited trade, marketplace or merchant activities as defined in a relevant anti-trust or such other restraint of trade statute.
Expanded Legal Definition of Anti-trust

Anton Piller Order
A court order allowing a party to litigation to enter the premises of another to search for and, if found, remove specified documents or items.
Expanded Legal Definition of Anton Piller Order

Apostacy
The ancient criminal offence of not being Christian or atheism.
Expanded Legal Definition of Apostacy

Appeal
To ask a more senior court or person to review a decision of a subordinate court or person.
Expanded Legal Definition of Appeal

Appearance
The act of showing up in court as either plaintiff, defendant, accused or any other party to a civil or criminal suit.
Expanded Legal Definition of Appearance

Apportionment
The division and distribution of something into proportionate parts; to each according to their share.
Expanded Legal Definition of Apportionment

Appraisal
The informed and objective inspection and estimation of a thing's worth.
Expanded Legal Definition of Appraisal

Appraisement
The inspection and appraisal or valuation of property, especially vessels, such as by a court-appointed surveyor, before its judicial sale, thus allowing the court to make an informed decision as to whether the judicial sale price is fair to the parties, particularly where there are competing claims for the proceeds of sale.
Expanded Legal Definition of Appraisement

Appurtenance
Something that, although detached, stands as part of another thing.
Expanded Legal Definition of Appurtenance

Arbiter
An alternate term for arbitrator; preferred in some jurisdictions such as Scotland.
Expanded Legal Definition of Arbiter

Arbitration
An agreement to submit a dispute for a hearing and binding decision by a third-party, an arbitrator(s), who is neither a judge or a Court
Expanded Legal Definition of Arbitration

Arbitration Act
A statute that sets out default terms for the conduct of arbitration between parties to a dispute.
Expanded Legal Definition of Arbitration Act

Arbitration Agreement
A contract between two or more parties to refer a dispute to arbitration.
Expanded Legal Definition of Arbitration Agreement

Arbitration Clause
A clause in a contract which requires a party to refer a dispute to arbitration.
Expanded Legal Definition of Arbitration Clause

Arbitration Rules
The rules of procedure that govern a particular arbitration.
Expanded Legal Definition of Arbitration Rules

Arbitrator
The adjudicating and presiding officer of a dispute submitted to arbitration.
Expanded Legal Definition of Arbitrator

Arbuckle Rights
The right of an accused to be sentenced by the judge who took his guilty plea.
Expanded Legal Definition of Arbuckle Rights

Armchair Rule
A rule of interpretation that a judge, called upon to interpret an otherwise unclear legal document, shall take into account the circumstances in which the document was created.
Expanded Legal Definition of Armchair Rule

Armed Robbery
Robbery committed while the person accused is armed with a dangerous weapon.
Expanded Legal Definition of Armed Robbery

Arraignment
In USA criminal law, the formal appearance of an accused person to hear, and to receive a copy of, the charge against him or her, in the presence of a judge, and to then enter a plea of guilty or not guilty.
Expanded Legal Definition of Arraignment

Arrears
A debt that is not paid on the due date adds up and accumulates in arrears.
Expanded Legal Definition of Arrears

Arrest
The detainment or restraint of a person or thing for the purposes of determining legal rights as regards a thing, or suspicion of criminal activity as regards a person.
Expanded Legal Definition of Arrest

Arson
The intentional setting of a fire to a building.
Expanded Legal Definition of Arson

As Is
That a product is sold in the condition in which it then exists.
Expanded Legal Definition of As Is

Assault
The touching of another person with an intent to harm, without that person's consent.
Expanded Legal Definition of Assault

Asset
A thing of value.
Expanded Legal Definition of Asset

Assign
To sell, give or otherwise transfer some legal right or responsibility to another.
Expanded Legal Definition of Assign

Assisted Suicide
An attempt to take one's own life with the intentional assistance of another person.
Expanded Legal Definition of Assisted Suicide

Association
A form of organizational structure which is institutionally operated on a cost recovery basis, for which incorporation is extended by the government or, in some jurisdictions, as an unincorporated association of individuals, for a set of purposes set out in statute such as religious, scientific, social, literary, educational, recreational or benevolent purposes, and generally operated as nearly as possible at cost.
Expanded Legal Definition of Association

Assumpsit
Medieval era action for breach of contract.
Expanded Legal Definition of Assumpsit

Athens Passenger Convention
Formally, the Athens Convention relating to the Carriage of Passengers and their Luggage by Sea (PAL), 1974, an international treaty which establishes a regime of liability for damage suffered by passengers carried on a seagoing vessel.
Expanded Legal Definition of Athens Passenger Convention

Attorney
An alternate word for lawyers or barrister and solicitor, used mostly in the USA.
Expanded Legal Definition of Attorney

Attorn or Attornment
To consent, implicitly or explicitly, to a transfer of a right.
Expanded Legal Definition of Attorn or Attornment

Audi Alteram Partem
Latin; literally 'hear the other side'.
Expanded Legal Definition of Audi Alteram Partem

Authentic Act
Civil law: a contract or other legal document which has been properly prepared or authenticated by a court officer, such as a notary, and thereafter given enhanced evidentiary status of its authenticity.
Expanded Legal Definition of Authentic Act

Automatism
An act done by a person who is not conscious of what he is doing.
Expanded Legal Definition of Automatism

Autrefois Acquit
Previously acquitted; an accused cannot be tried for a crime because the record shows he has already been subjected to trial for the same conduct and was acquitted.
Expanded Legal Definition of Autrefois Acquit

Averment
Pleadings; official allegations of fact made by a party to a lawsuit.
Expanded Legal Definition of Averment

A Vinculo Matrimonii
Latin: of marriage.
Expanded Legal Definition of A Vinculo Matrimonii

Avulsion
The removal of land from one real property and its deposit on the property of another, by the sudden action of nature (eg. water or volcano).
Expanded Legal Definition of Avulsion

Avunculus
Latin: a mother's brother.
Expanded Legal Definition of Avunculus

Award
The decision of an arbitrator.
Expanded Legal Definition of Award

  

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