Legal Term Beginning with I
Immunity
An exemption that a person (individual or corporate) enjoys from the normal operation of the law such as a legal duty or liability, either criminal or civil. - (see expanded definition at duhaime.org)
In Camera
A closed and private session of Court or some other deliberating body. - (see expanded definition at duhaime.org)
Incorporeal
Legal rights which are intangible such as copyrights or patents. - (see expanded definition at duhaime.org)
Incorporeal hereditament
An incorporeal right which is attached to property and which is inheritable. Easements and profits ` prendre are examples of incorporeal hereditaments as are hereditary titles such as those common in the United Kingdom. - (see expanded definition at duhaime.org)
Indefeasible
A right or title in property that cannot be made void, defeated or canceled by any past event, error or omission in the title. - (see expanded definition at duhaime.org)
Indemnity
Contract with a third-party to perform another's obligations if called upon to do so by the third-party, whether the other has defaulted or not. - (see expanded definition at duhaime.org)
Indictable offence
An offence which, in Canada, is more serious than those which can proceed by summary conviction. - (see expanded definition at duhaime.org)
Indictment
USA: a formal accusation returned by a Grand Jury, that charges a person with a serious crime. It is on the basis of an indictment that an accused person must stand trial. - (see expanded definition at duhaime.org)
Indigenous
Native to a particular territory. - (see expanded definition at duhaime.org)
Indigent
A poor person; not penniless but in need and who has no financial support from any other. - (see expanded definition at duhaime.org)
Infanticide
Murder of an infant soon after its birth. - (see expanded definition at duhaime.org)
Injunction
A court order that prohibits a party from doing something (restrictive injunction) or compels them to do something (mandatory injunction). - (see expanded definition at duhaime.org)
In limine
Latin: at the beginning or on the threshold. - (see expanded definition at duhaime.org)
Innocent Passage
A term of international maritime law referring to a ship's right to enter and pass through a coastal state's territorial waters so long as it is not prejudicial to the peace, good order or security of the coastal state. - (see expanded definition at duhaime.org)
In pari delicto
Latin: both parties are equally at fault. - (see expanded definition at duhaime.org)
In personam
Latin: All legal rights are either in personam or in rem. An in personam right is a personal right attached to a specific person. In rem rights are property rights and enforceable against the entire world. - (see expanded definition at duhaime.org)
In rem
Latin: All legal rights are either in personam or in rem. In rem rights are proprietary in nature; related to the ownership of property and not based on any personal relationship, as is the case with in personam rights. - (see expanded definition at duhaime.org)
Insanity
Disorder which impairs the human mind and prevents a person from awareness that his act was wrong. - (see expanded definition at duhaime.org)
Insider Trading
Participation by corporate officers, directors or employees in the trade of a stock based on confidential or privileged corporate information, knowing that information to be confidential, and seeking thereby to acquire profits or avoid losses on the stock market. - (see expanded definition at duhaime.org)
Insolence
Insulting a supervisor at the workplace or within an employment contract. - (see expanded definition at duhaime.org)
Insolvent
A person not able to pay his or her debts as they become due. 'Insolvency' is a prerequisite to bankruptcy. - (see expanded definition at duhaime.org)
Insubordination
Willful failure to obey a supervisor's lawful orders. - (see expanded definition at duhaime.org)
Insurance
Where a persons agrees, for consideration, to pay a certain amount on the occurrence of a specified event. - (see expanded definition at duhaime.org)
Intellectual Property
As a type of property, intellectual property has that unique characteristic of being ethereal; of the mind, intangible, with no corporeal existence; hence, 'intellectual property'. - (see expanded definition at duhaime.org)
Inter alia
Latin: 'among other things', 'for example' or 'including'. - (see expanded definition at duhaime.org)
Interim order
A temporary court order; intended to be of limited duration, usually just until the court has had an opportunity of hearing the full case and make a final order. - (see expanded definition at duhaime.org)
Interlineation
An addition of something to a document after it has been signed. Such additions are ignored unless they are initialed by the signatories and, if applicable, witnesses (eg. wills). - (see expanded definition at duhaime.org)
Interlocutory
Proceedings taken during the course of, and incidental to a trial. - (see expanded definition at duhaime.org)
Interlocutory injunction
An injunction which lasts only until the end of the trial during which the injunction was sought. - (see expanded definition at duhaime.org)
Interloper
A person who, without legal right, runs a business (eg. without mandatory licenses), or who wrongfully interferes or intercepts another's business. - (see expanded definition at duhaime.org)
International law
A combination of treaties and customs which regulates the conduct of states amongst themselves. The highest judicial authority of international law is the International Court of Justice and the administrative authority is the United Nations. - (see expanded definition at duhaime.org)
Internet
A global computer network. - (see expanded definition at duhaime.org)
Inter partes
Latin: between parties. - (see expanded definition at duhaime.org)
Inter se
Inter se - as between or amongst themselves. As between the parties. - (see expanded definition at duhaime.org)
Inter vivos
Latin: from one living person to another living person. - (see expanded definition at duhaime.org)
Intestate
Dying without a will. - (see expanded definition at duhaime.org)
Inure
To take effect, to result; to come into operation. - (see expanded definition at duhaime.org)
Islamic law
The law according to the Muslim faith and as interpreted from the Koran. - (see expanded definition at duhaime.org)
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