FindLaw Legal Dictionary

Legal Term of the Day

• Mar 25, 2019 7:00 AM:  Res Inter Alios Acta
  [Late Latin, literally, thing done among others] : something transacted between other parties NOTE: This term is used in reference to matters not involving the same parties as those in litigation. ...

• Mar 24, 2019 7:00 AM:  Imputed Income
  : income calculated from the supposed value of intangible or non-cash sources

• Mar 23, 2019 7:00 AM:  Portfolio
  : the securities held by an investor : the commercial paper held by a financial institution (as a bank)

• Mar 22, 2019 7:00 AM:  Viatical Settlement
  [probably from Latin viaticum provision for a journey] : an agreement by which the owner of a life insurance policy covering a person (as the owner) with a catastrophic or life-threatening illness ...

• Mar 21, 2019 7:00 AM:  Society
  pl: -ties 1 : the benefits of love, care, affection, and companionship that family members receive from each other [sought damages for loss of from his wife's wrongful death] compare consortium 2 : ...

• Mar 20, 2019 7:00 AM:  Per Annum
  [Medieval Latin] : in or for each year [interest of six percent per annum]

• Mar 19, 2019 7:00 AM:  False Light
  : an untrue or misleading portrayal [unreasonably placed their family in a false light before the public "Cantrell v. Forest City Publishing Co., 419 U.S. 245 (1974)"] ;also : an invasion of privacy ...

• Mar 18, 2019 7:00 AM:  Double Taxation
  : taxation by the same authority of the same property for the same period and the same purpose

• Mar 17, 2019 7:00 AM:  Answer
  1 : the defendant's written response to the plaintiff's complaint in a civil suit in which he or she may deny any of plaintiff's allegations, offer any defenses, and make any counterclaims against ...

• Mar 16, 2019 7:00 AM:  Inheritance
  1 : the act of inheriting: as a : the acquisition of real or personal property under the laws of intestacy or sometimes by will b : the succession upon the death of an owner either by will or by ...

• Mar 15, 2019 7:00 AM:  Satisfaction Piece
  : a formal written acknowledgment by an obligee (as a mortgagee) that an obligation has been satisfied and that the obligor is discharged

• Mar 14, 2019 7:00 AM:  Reconvention
  [French, from Middle French, from re- again, back + convention agreement between two parties] in the civil law of Louisiana : the act or process of making a counterclaim [judicial efficiency is ...

• Mar 13, 2019 7:00 AM:  Split
  split split·ting : to divide into parts or portions: as a : to divide into factions, parties, or groups b : to mark (a ballot) or cast or register (a vote) so as to vote for candidates of ...

• Mar 12, 2019 7:00 AM:  Examine
  ex·am·ined ex·am·in·ing 1 : to investigate or inspect closely [ the title] compare audit 2 : to question closely esp. in a court proceeding compare depose

• Mar 11, 2019 7:00 AM:  Housing Court
  : a court having limited jurisdiction over certain property and housing cases (as landlord and tenant disputes)

• Mar 10, 2019 7:00 AM:  Expectancy
  pl: -cies : something expected: as a : an interest held by a person who may receive something (as a bequest) in the future but has no enforceable right to it b : the benefit that will be received ...

• Mar 9, 2019 7:00 AM:  Grace Period
  : a period of time beyond a scheduled date during which a required action (as payment of an obligation) may be taken without incurring the ordinarily resulting adverse consequences (as penalty or ...

• Mar 8, 2019 7:00 AM:  Lawful Permanent Resident Alien (Lpra)
  Lawful permanent resident.

• Mar 7, 2019 7:00 AM:  Sec
  Securities and Exchange Commission see also the Important Agencies section

• Mar 6, 2019 7:00 AM:  International Monetary Fund (Imf)
  Agency of United Nations established to stabilize international exchange and promote balanced international trade.

• Mar 5, 2019 7:00 AM:  Recant
  : to renounce or withdraw (prior statements or testimony) [surprised the prosecution by ing statements made earlier to the police] vi : to renounce or withdraw prior statements or testimony ...

• Mar 4, 2019 7:00 AM:  Unfair Trade Practice
  : any of various deceptive, fraudulent, or otherwise injurious (as to a consumer) practices or acts that are declared unlawful by statute (as a consumer protection act) or recognized as actionable at ...

• Mar 3, 2019 7:00 AM:  Res Nova
  [Latin, new matter] : a case or issue that has never before been decided by a court [plaintiff admits this case is res nova in Alabama "McDermott v. Hambright, 238 So. 2d 876 (1970)"]

• Mar 2, 2019 7:00 AM:  Notice Of Allowance
  A written notification from the USPTO that a specific mark has survived the opposition period following publication in the Official Gazette, and has consequently been allowed for registration. It does ...

• Mar 1, 2019 7:00 AM:  Subrogor
  : the party (as an insured) that yields his or her rights to another (as an insurer) by subrogation

• Feb 28, 2019 7:00 AM:  Hung Jury
  : a jury whose members are unable to agree on a verdict

• Feb 27, 2019 7:00 AM:  Fiscal
  [Latin fiscalis, from fiscus basket, treasury] 1 : of or relating to taxation, public revenues, or public debt [ policy] 2 : of or relating to financial matters fis·cal·ly adv

• Feb 26, 2019 7:00 AM:  Emblements
  [Anglo-French, from Middle French emblaement act of sowing grain, from emblaer to sow with grain, from en-, causative prefix + Old French blet ble grain] : crops from annual cultivation legally ...

• Feb 25, 2019 7:00 AM:  Dwi
  driving while intoxicated

• Feb 24, 2019 7:00 AM:  Realty
  : real property at property

• Feb 23, 2019 7:00 AM:  Purchase Offer
  A detailed, written document that makes an offer to purchase a property, and that may be amended several times in the process of negotiations. When signed by all parties involved in the sale, the ...

• Feb 22, 2019 7:00 AM:  Color Of Title
  1 : an apparent but invalid title based upon a written instrument or record ;also : the instrument itself 2 : an apparent ownership claimed by adverse possession

• Feb 21, 2019 7:00 AM:  Locus
  : the place connected with a particular event having legal significance

• Feb 20, 2019 7:00 AM:  Social Contract
  : an actual or hypothetical agreement among individuals forming an organized society or between the community and the ruler that defines and limits the rights and duties of each

• Feb 19, 2019 7:00 AM:  Trustworthy
  : worthy of confidence ;specif : being or deriving from a source worthy of belief or consideration for evidentiary purposes [a informant] trust·wor·thi·ness n

• Feb 18, 2019 7:00 AM:  Irretrievable Breakdown Of The Marriage
  : 

• Feb 17, 2019 7:00 AM:  Simulation
  in the civil law of Louisiana 1 : the act of simulating 2 : a contract that by mutual agreement does not express the true intent of the parties see also counterletter compare disguised donation at ...

• Feb 16, 2019 7:00 AM:  Broke
  past of break

• Feb 15, 2019 7:00 AM:  Probata
  : things conclusively established or proved compare allegata

• Feb 14, 2019 7:00 AM:  Resettlement
  Permanent relocation of refugees in a place outside their country of origin to allow them to establish residence and become productive members of society there. Refugee resettlement is accomplished ...

• Feb 13, 2019 7:00 AM:  Examination
  : the act or process of examining ;esp : a formal questioning esp. in a court proceeding see also cross-examination, direct examination, recross-examination, redirect examination compare affidavit, ...

• Feb 12, 2019 7:00 AM:  Superintendent
  : one who has the oversight and charge of a place, institution, department, organization, or operation ;specif : the executive head of a police department

• Feb 11, 2019 7:00 AM:  Customs
  The duties, toll, tribute, or tariff payable upon merchandise exported or imported.

• Feb 10, 2019 7:00 AM:  Livery Of Seisin
  : an ancient ceremony for conveyance of land by the symbolic transfer of a relevant item (as a key, twig, or turf) or by symbolic entry of the grantee called also investiture see also feoffment

• Feb 9, 2019 7:00 AM:  Shelf Registration
  : a provision of Securities and Exchange Commission regulations governing public offerings that allows corporations to defer sale of some shares after registration until market conditions are more ...

• Feb 8, 2019 7:00 AM:  Pendent
  [Middle French pendant suspended, present participle of pendre to hang, ultimately from Latin pendēre] 1 : remaining undetermined : pending [a suit] 2 : of, relating to, or being the basis of ...

• Feb 7, 2019 7:00 AM:  C & F
  cost and freight

• Feb 6, 2019 7:00 AM:  Unjustified
  : not justified [an intrusion]

• Feb 5, 2019 7:00 AM:  Distrain
  [Anglo-French destreindre, literally, to constrict, force, from Old French, from Late Latin distringere to hinder, punish, from Latin, to pull in different directions, distract, from dis- apart + ...

• Feb 4, 2019 7:00 AM:  Redemption
  : the act, process, or fact of redeeming see also equity of redemption, right of redemption re·demp·tive [-demp-tiv] adj

• Feb 3, 2019 7:00 AM:  Balloon Loan Or Mortgage
  a mortgage that typically offers low rates for an initial period of time (usually 5, 7, or 10) years; after that time period elapses, the balance is due or is refinanced by the borrower.

• Feb 2, 2019 7:00 AM:  Damage
  [Old French, from dam injury, harm, from Latin damnum financial loss, fine] 1 : loss or harm resulting from injury to person, property, or reputation 2 pl : the money awarded to a party in a civil ...

• Feb 1, 2019 7:00 AM:  Hereditament
  [Medieval Latin hereditamentum, from Late Latin hereditare to inherit, from Latin hered- heres heir] : inheritable property

• Jan 31, 2019 7:00 AM:  Cancellation
  also can·cel·a·tion n 1 : the act or an instance of cancelling 2 : a mark made to cancel something (as a check)

• Jan 30, 2019 7:00 AM:  Reach
  1 : to extend application to 2 : to obtain an interest in or possession of [unable to all the assets of the debtor] 3 a : to arrive at and consider [the justices did not that issue] b : to amount ...

• Jan 29, 2019 7:00 AM:  Special Permit
  : special exception

• Jan 28, 2019 7:00 AM:  Write Down
  wrote down writ·ten down writ·ing down : to reduce the book value of (an asset) [write down accounts receivable] write-down [rīt-dan] n

• Jan 27, 2019 7:00 AM:  Gift
  1 : an intentional and gratuitous transfer of real or personal property by a donor with legal capacity who actually or constructively delivers the property to the donee with the intent of giving up ...

• Jan 26, 2019 7:00 AM:  Privileged Communication
  1 : confidential communication 2 a : a defamatory communication that does not expose the party making it to the liability that would follow from it if not privileged called also absolutely ...

• Jan 25, 2019 7:00 AM:  Acv
  actual cash value

• Jan 24, 2019 7:00 AM:  Class Suit
  : class action

• Jan 23, 2019 7:00 AM:  Exclusion
  1 : the act of excluding or state of being excluded ;specif : refusal of entry into the U.S. by immigration officials [review of deportation and orders] compare deportation 2 : something that ...

• Jan 22, 2019 7:00 AM:  Concubinage
  : the relationship between persons who are cohabiting without the benefit of marriage used esp. in the civil law of Louisiana compare common-law marriage NOTE: Under Louisiana law, concubinage does ...

• Jan 21, 2019 7:00 AM:  Quasi-Offense
  in the civil law of Louisiana : a negligent unlawful act that causes damage to another and for which the law imposes an obligation for damages compare offense

• Jan 20, 2019 7:00 AM:  Certificate Of Occupancy
  :a certificate issued by a local authority indicating that a building meets building-code requirements

• Jan 19, 2019 7:00 AM:  Immediate Relatives
  Certain immigrants who because of their close relationship to U.S. citizens are exempt from the numerical limitations imposed on immigration to the United States. Immediate relatives are: spouses of ...

• Jan 18, 2019 7:00 AM:  Strike
  struck struck also: strick·en strik·ing vi 1 : to remove or delete something 2 : to stop work in order to force an employer to comply with demands vt 1 : to remove or delete from a legal ...

• Jan 17, 2019 7:00 AM:  Component Part
  : something (as a building or part of a building) that cannot be removed without substantial damage to itself or to the immovable property to which it is attached

• Jan 16, 2019 7:00 AM:  Trial De Novo
  : a trial in a higher court in which all the issues of fact or law tried in a lower court or tribunal are reconsidered as if no previous trial had taken place compare mistrial

• Jan 15, 2019 7:00 AM:  Bug
  bugged bug·ging : to plant a concealed microphone in [ an office] compare eavesdrop, wiretap

• Jan 14, 2019 7:00 AM:  Unavoidable Accident
  : an accident that is not proximately caused by the negligence of any party or that is unforeseeable or not preventable by exercise of reasonable precautions and for which liability based on fault is ...

• Jan 13, 2019 7:00 AM:  Intention
  : something intended : intent [the of the testator] NOTE: Intent is more commonly used than intention when speaking technically esp. about the criminal and tort concepts of intent (senses 1a and ...

• Jan 12, 2019 7:00 AM:  Probation
  [Middle French, critical examination and evaluation, from Latin probation- probatio, from probare to test, approve, prove] 1 a : subjection to a period of evaluation and possible termination at the ...

• Jan 11, 2019 7:00 AM:  Primogeniture
  1 : the state of being the firstborn of the children of the same parents 2 : exclusive right of inheritance ;specif : a right to take all the real property of an estate belonging under English law ...

• Jan 10, 2019 7:00 AM:  Moratoria
  pl of moratorium

• Jan 9, 2019 7:00 AM:  Accounts Receivable
  Money due from your customers. Your accounts receivable balance equals the dollar amount of sales that you have made to your customers on credit terms but that have not yet been paid. The accounts ...

• Jan 8, 2019 7:00 AM:  Immaterial
  : not essential, pertinent, or of consequence [the jury could have discounted the medical history evidence, or while accepting its accuracy, found it "Willett v. State, 911 S.W.2d 937 (1995)"] ...

• Jan 7, 2019 7:00 AM:  Pur Autre Vie
  : for another's life see also estate pur autre vie at estate

• Jan 6, 2019 7:00 AM:  Rehabilitate
  -tat·ed -tat·ing 1 : to restore to a former capacity ;specif : to restore credibility to (a witness or testimony) [the State simply brought out all of the prior statements to qualify or ...

• Jan 5, 2019 7:00 AM:  Merged Credit Report
  raw data pulled from two or more of the major credit-reporting firms.

• Jan 4, 2019 7:00 AM:  Replacement Cost
  : the cost of replacing property with property of like kind and equal quality or effectiveness

• Jan 3, 2019 7:00 AM:  Marine Insurance
  : insurance against loss by damage to or destruction of cargo or the means or instruments of its transportation whether on land, sea, or air see also inland marine insurance, ocean marine insurance

• Jan 2, 2019 7:00 AM:  Unprivileged
  : not privileged [ communication]

• Jan 1, 2019 7:00 AM:  Special Duty Doctrine
  : an exception to the public duty doctrine that imposes liability for injury on a government entity when there is a special duty owed to the plaintiff but not to the public at large called also ...

• Dec 31, 2018 7:00 AM:  Insider
  : a person who is in a position of power or has access to confidential information: as a : one (as an officer, director, employee, relative, or owner of more than 10% of the corporation's stock) who ...

• Dec 30, 2018 7:00 AM:  Son Of Sam Law
  [after Son of Sam, pseudonym of serial killer David Berkowitz, whose profits from the sale of his story a 1977 New York statute attempted to divert to his victims] : a law preventing criminals from ...

• Dec 29, 2018 7:00 AM:  Former Jeopardy
  1 : a common-law plea in bar of autrefois acquit or autrefois convict 2 : double jeopardy

• Dec 28, 2018 7:00 AM:  Lord Campbell's Act
  [after Baron John Campbell (1779-1861), Scottish-born British jurist who played an instrumental role in the passage of the 1846 Fatal Accidents Act, which formed the basis for such laws] : a statute ...

• Dec 27, 2018 7:00 AM:  Dangerous Instrument
  : an object capable of causing bodily injury either because of an inherent quality or because of the manner in which it is used called also dangerous instrumentality NOTE: An object is more likely to ...

• Dec 26, 2018 7:00 AM:  Impracticable
  : excessively difficult to perform esp. by reason of an unforeseen contingency [a contract made by the new regulation]

• Dec 25, 2018 7:00 AM:  Agency Shop
  : a shop in which the labor union serves as the bargaining agent for and receives dues from all employees in the bargaining unit regardless of union membership compare open shop, union shop

• Dec 24, 2018 7:00 AM:  Expressio Unius Est Exclusio Alterius
  [New Latin, the explicit mention of one (thing) is the exclusion of another] : a principle in statutory construction: when one or more things of a class are expressly mentioned others of the same ...

• Dec 23, 2018 7:00 AM:  Outlaw
  [Old English tlaga, from Old Norse tlagi, from t out + lag lg law] 1 : a person excluded from the benefit or protection of the law [a trespasser is not an ] 2 : a lawless person or a fugitive from ...

• Dec 22, 2018 7:00 AM:  Permanent Partial Disability (Ppd)
  PPD benefits are payable, in most jurisdictions, to an employee who has sustained a permanent, but not complete, disability. Many state statutes have pre-set values for a host of different PPD ...

• Dec 21, 2018 7:00 AM:  Estate Tax
  : an excise in the form of a percentage of the taxable estate that is imposed on a property owner's right to transfer the property to others after his or her death called also succession tax see also ...

• Dec 20, 2018 7:00 AM:  Generation-Skipping Tax
  : generation-skipping transfer tax

• Dec 19, 2018 7:00 AM:  Erie Doctrine
  [from the Supreme Court case Erie Railroad Co. v. Tompkins, which resulted in definition of the doctrine] : a doctrine that a federal court exercising diversity jurisdiction over a case for which no ...

• Dec 18, 2018 7:00 AM:  Jus Privatum
  [New Latin, from Latin, private law or right] : a right of private ownership compare jus publicum

• Dec 17, 2018 7:00 AM:  Evidentiary
  1 : being, relating to, or affording evidence [photographs of value] 2 : conducted so that evidence may be presented [an hearing] ev·i·den·tia·ri·ly adv

• Dec 16, 2018 7:00 AM:  Syndic
  [French, government officer, from Late Latin syndicus, from Greek syndikos court assistant, advocate, from syn- together with + dikē right, judgment] in the civil law of Louisiana : a trustee of ...