Legal Terms Beginning with N
Nation
A group or race of people that share history, traditions and culture. - (see expanded definition at duhaime.org)
National treatment
A tenet of international trade agreements whereby nations must afford imported goods the same treatment that they afford domestic or national products (no discrimination). - (see expanded definition at duhaime.org)
Natural justice
A word used to refer to situations where audi alteram partem (the right to be heard) and quasi-judicial or judicial decisions. - (see expanded definition at duhaime.org)
NCND Agreement
An international trade instrument; non circumvention/non disclosure agreement used in the preliminary stages of a business transaction where the Seller and Buyer do not know each other, but are brought into contact with each other by one or more intermediaries (also known as brokers or middlemen), to fulfill the transaction. - (see expanded definition at duhaime.org)
Negligence
Not only are people responsible for the intentional harm they cause, but their failure to act as a reasonable person would be expected to act in similar circumstances (i.e. negligence) will also give rise to compensation. - (see expanded definition at duhaime.org)
Negotiate
To communicate on a matter of disagreement between two parties, with a view to first listen to the other party's perspective and to then attempt to arrive at a resolution by consensus. - (see expanded definition at duhaime.org)
Nemo judex in parte sua
Latin, and a fundamental principle of natural justice which states that no person can judge a case in which he or she is party or in which he/she has an interest. - (see expanded definition at duhaime.org)
Next of kin
The nearest blood relative of a deceased. - (see expanded definition at duhaime.org)
Nolo contendere
Latin for I will not defend it. Used primarily in criminal proceedings whereby the defendant declines to refute the evidence of the prosecution. - (see expanded definition at duhaime.org)
Non compos mentis
Not of sound mind (Latin). - (see expanded definition at duhaime.org)
Non est factum
Latin for not his deed and a special defense in contract law to allow a person to avoid having to respect a contract that she or he signed because of certain reasons such as a mistake as to the kind of contract. - (see expanded definition at duhaime.org)
Nonfeasance
Not doing something that a person should be doing. Compare with malfeasance and misfeasance. - (see expanded definition at duhaime.org)
Non-joinder
When a person who should have been made a party to a legal proceedings has been forgotten or omitted. - (see expanded definition at duhaime.org)
Non-profit
Operated as nearly as possible at cost; an organization not seeking profit and which does not disgorge excess income to its members, in the form of dividends or otherwise. - (see expanded definition at duhaime.org)
Noscitur a sociis
That the meaning of a word may be known from accompanying words. - (see expanded definition at duhaime.org)
Notary
Also known as notary public: a legal officer with specific judicial authority to attest to legal documents usually with an official seal. - (see expanded definition at duhaime.org)
Not For Profit
Operated as nearly as possible at cost; on a cost-recovery basis; an organization not seeking profit and which does not disgorge excess income to its members, in the form of dividends or otherwise. - (see expanded definition at duhaime.org)
Notwithstanding
In spite of, even if, without regard to or impediment by other things. - (see expanded definition at duhaime.org)
Novation
substitute a new debt for an old debt cancelling the old debt. - (see expanded definition at duhaime.org)
Nudum pactum
A contract-law term which stands for those agreements which are without consideration, such as a unilateral undertaking, which may bind a person morally, but not under contract law, in those jurisdictions which still require consideration. - (see expanded definition at duhaime.org)
Nuisance
Excessive or unlawful use of one’s property to the extent of unreasonable annoyance or inconvenience to a neighbor or to the public. Nuisance is a tort. - (see expanded definition at duhaime.org)
Nunc pro tunc
Deemed retroactive - (see expanded definition at duhaime.org)
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