FindLaw Legal Dictionary

Legal Term of the Day

• May 20, 2019 7:00 AM:  Fine
  [Anglo-French fin fine & Medieval Latin finis end, boundary, agreement, payment for release or privilege, monetary penalty, from Latin finis end, boundary] 1 : a sum imposed as punishment for an ...

• May 19, 2019 7:00 AM:  Escrow Account
  a separate account into which the lender puts a portion of each monthly mortgage payment; an escrow account provides the funds needed for such expenses as property taxes, homeowners insurance, ...

• May 18, 2019 7:00 AM:  Non Compos Mentis
  [Latin, literally, not having mastery of one's mind] : not of sound mind : lacking mental ability to understand the nature, consequences, and effect of a situation or transaction

• May 17, 2019 7:00 AM:  Murder
  [partly from Old English morthor; partly from Old French murdre, of Germanic origin] : the crime of unlawfully and unjustifiably killing another under circumstances defined by statute (as with ...

• May 16, 2019 7:00 AM:  Insane
  : affected with insanity

• May 15, 2019 7:00 AM:  Tangible
  : capable of being perceived esp. by the sense of touch

• May 14, 2019 7:00 AM:  Special Session
  : an extraordinary session (as of a court or a legislative body)

• May 13, 2019 7:00 AM:  District Judge
  : the judge of a district court

• May 12, 2019 7:00 AM:  Cancellation Of Removal
  A discretionary benefit adjusting an alien's status from that of deportable alien to one lawfully admitted for permanent residence. Application for cancellation of removal is made during the course of ...

• May 11, 2019 7:00 AM:  Detinue
  [Anglo-French detenue, from feminine past participle of detenir to detain see detainer ] : a common-law action for the recovery of personal property belonging to the plaintiff that is wrongfully ...

• May 10, 2019 7:00 AM:  Divest
  [Anglo-French devestir, literally, to undress, from Old French desvestir, from de(s)-, prefix marking reversal + vestir to dress, from Latin vestire] : to deprive or dispossess (oneself) of property ...

• May 9, 2019 7:00 AM:  Guardianship
  A legal arrangement under which one person (a guardian) has the legal right and duty to care for another (the ward) and his or her property. A guardianship is established because of the ward's ...

• May 8, 2019 7:00 AM:  Libellee
  also li·bel·ee [lī-bə-lē] n 1 : a party against whom a suit has been instituted by a libel ;esp : the respondent or defendant in a divorce proceeding 2 : a person who has ...

• May 7, 2019 7:00 AM:  Unjust Enrichment
  1 : the retaining of a benefit (as money) conferred by another when principles of equity and justice call for restitution to the other party ;also : the retaining of property acquired esp. by fraud ...

• May 6, 2019 7:00 AM:  Consignee
  : a person to whom goods are consigned

• May 5, 2019 7:00 AM:  Act Of God
  often cap A : an extraordinary natural event (as a flood or earthquake) that cannot be reasonably foreseen or prevented compare force majeure, inevitable accident, unavoidable accident NOTE: It is a ...

• May 4, 2019 7:00 AM:  Transact
  1 : to carry on business 2 in the civil law of Louisiana : to settle a dispute by a transaction vt 1 : to carry to completion [ a sale] 2 : to carry on the operation or management of [ business]

• May 3, 2019 7:00 AM:  Mary Carter Agreement
  [from Booth v. Mary Carter Paint Co., 202 So. 2d 8 (1967), Florida appeals court case that popularized the agreement] : a secret agreement between a plaintiff and one or more but not all codefendants ...

• May 2, 2019 7:00 AM:  Barratry
  pl: -tries [Middle French baraterie deception, from barater to deceive, cheat] 1 : an unlawful act or fraudulent breach of duty by a ship's master or crew that injures the interests of the ship's or ...

• May 1, 2019 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 ...

• Apr 30, 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 ...

• Apr 29, 2019 7:00 AM:  Effect
  1 : something that is produced by an agent or cause 2 pl : personal property at property : goods [the right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and s, against ...

• Apr 28, 2019 7:00 AM:  Promisee
  : one to whom a promise is made

• Apr 27, 2019 7:00 AM:  Warden
  [Anglo-French wardein gardein guardian, from warder garder to guard, protect] 1 : an official charged with special supervisory duties or with the enforcement of specified laws or regulations [a game ...

• Apr 26, 2019 7:00 AM:  Restatement
  : any of several volumes produced by the American Law Institute and authored by legal scholars and experts that set forth statements of major areas of law (as contracts, torts, trusts, and property) ...

• Apr 25, 2019 7:00 AM:  Visa Numbers
  Congress establishes the amount of immigration each year. Immigration for immediate relatives is unlimited; however, preference categories are limited. To distribute the visas fairly among all ...

• Apr 24, 2019 7:00 AM:  Current Ratio
  A ratio of a business' current assets to its current liabilities

• Apr 23, 2019 7:00 AM:  Comptroller General Procurement Decisions
  The Comptroller General's decisions issued regarding appropriations, bid protests, major rules and related issues. These decisions are prepared by the GAO's Office of General Counsel.

• Apr 22, 2019 7:00 AM:  Tax Credit
  : an amount that may be subtracted from the sum of tax otherwise due and that is distinguished from a deduction applied to gross income in the calculation of taxable income compare exemption

• Apr 21, 2019 7:00 AM:  Case
  [Latin casus accident, event, set of circumstances, literally, act of falling] 1 a : a civil or criminal suit or action [the judicial power shall extend to all s, in law and equity, arising under ...

• Apr 20, 2019 7:00 AM:  Sub-Prime Loan
  "B" Loan or "B" paper with FICO scores from 620 - 659. "C" Loan or "C" Paper with FICO scores typically from 580 to 619. An industry term to used to describe loans with less stringent lending and ...

• Apr 19, 2019 7:00 AM:  Tipster
  : one who provides a tip to the police

• Apr 18, 2019 7:00 AM:  Panel
  1 : a group of community members summoned for jury service 2 : a group of usually three judges among the judges sitting on an appellate court who hear a particular appeal compare full court

• Apr 17, 2019 7:00 AM:  Informant
  : one who informs against another ;specif : one who makes a practice esp. for money of informing police of others' criminal activities

• Apr 16, 2019 7:00 AM:  Disfranchise
  -chised -chis·ing : to deprive of a franchise, of a legal right, or of some privilege or immunity ;esp : to deprive of the right to vote

• Apr 15, 2019 7:00 AM:  Larceny
  pl: -nies [modification of Anglo-French larcine theft, from Old French larrecin, from Latin latrocinium robbery, from latron- latro mercenary soldier, brigand] : the unlawful taking and carrying away ...

• Apr 14, 2019 7:00 AM:  Statement
  1 a : an official or formal report or declaration [a of policy] b : an oral or written assertion (as by a witness) or conduct intended as an assertion see also hearsay, prior consistent statement, ...

• Apr 13, 2019 7:00 AM:  Discriminate
  -nat·ed -nat·ing : to make a difference in treatment or favor on a basis other than individual merit ;esp : to make a difference in treatment on a basis prohibited by law (as national ...

• Apr 12, 2019 7:00 AM:  Subagent
  : an agent who is appointed by another agent (as an insurance agent) and for whom the principal agent is responsible or liable

• Apr 11, 2019 7:00 AM:  Notice Of Intent To Dissolve
  A document informing the secretary of state that your corporation will be dissolving

• Apr 10, 2019 7:00 AM:  Presidential Government
  : a system of government in which the president is constitutionally independent of the legislature

• Apr 9, 2019 7:00 AM:  Cmo
  : collateralized mortgage obligation

• Apr 8, 2019 7:00 AM:  Piti
  Principal, Interest, Taxes, and Insurance

• Apr 7, 2019 7:00 AM:  Civil Case
  a lawsuit brought by a party (the plaintiff) against another party (the defendant) claiming that the defendant failed to carry out a legal duty owed to the plaintiff and that the defendant's breach of ...

• Apr 6, 2019 7:00 AM:  Reference
  1 : an act of referring ;specif : mention or citation of one document (as a statute) in another [a municipality may adopt by all or a part of this title "Alaska Statutes"] see also incorporate 2 : ...

• Apr 5, 2019 7:00 AM:  Accumulated Earnings Tax
  : a tax levied on the taxable income of a corporation that is accumulated by the corporation rather than distributed to shareholders and that is not retained for the reasonable needs of the business

• Apr 4, 2019 7:00 AM:  Merger
  1 : the absorption of a lesser estate or interest into a greater one held by the same person compare confusion 2 : the incorporation and superseding of one contract by another 3 a : the treatment ...

• Apr 3, 2019 7:00 AM:  Coupon
  [French, from Old French, piece, from couper to cut] : a statement of due interest to be cut from a debt instrument and esp. a bearer bond when payable and presented for payment ;also : the interest ...

• Apr 2, 2019 7:00 AM:  Hand Down
  1 : to deliver (the decision or opinion of an appellate court) to the proper office of an inferior court 2 : to make an official formulation of and announce (the decision of a court)

• Apr 1, 2019 7:00 AM:  Private School
  A school maintained by private individuals, a religious organization, or a corporation, not at public expense. Open only to pupils selected and admitted by the proprietors or to pupils of a certain ...

• Mar 31, 2019 7:00 AM:  After-Acquired
  : acquired after a certain event (as the perfection of a security interest)

• Mar 30, 2019 7:00 AM:  Mcnabb-Mallory Rule
  [after McNabb v. United States, 318 U.S. 332 (1943) and Mallory v. United States, 354 U.S. 449 (1957), U.S. Supreme Court cases that established the rule] : a doctrine in criminal procedure: an ...

• Mar 29, 2019 7:00 AM:  Limited Public Forum
  : a public forum created by the government voluntarily for expressive activity that may be restricted as to subject matter or class of speaker called also limited forum limited open forum compare ...

• Mar 28, 2019 7:00 AM:  Casualty Pot
  : a step in calculating tax liability under Internal Revenue Code section 1231 in which qualified casualty gains and losses are added together to determine if the result is a net loss or net gain ...

• Mar 27, 2019 7:00 AM:  Insider Preference
  : a transfer of property by a debtor in bankruptcy to an insider made more than ninety days prior to but within one year of the bankruptcy petition

• Mar 26, 2019 7:00 AM:  Building Code
  based on agreed upon safety standards within a specific area, a building code is a regulation that determines the design, construction, and materials used in building.

• 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