The FindLaw Legal Dictionary -- free access to over 8260 definitions of legal terms. Search for a definition or browse our legal glossaries.
Nov 17, 2018 7:00 AM:
Exhaustion Of Remedies
:a doctrine of civil and criminal procedure: a remedy cannot be sought in another forum (as a federal district court) until the remedies or claims have been exhausted in the forum having original ...
Nov 16, 2018 7:00 AM:
Margin Account
: a client's account with a brokerage firm through which the client may buy securities on the firm's credit
Nov 15, 2018 7:00 AM:
Status Quo
[Latin, state in which] : the existing state of affairs ;specif : the last actual and uncontested state of affairs that preceded a controversy and that is to be preserved by preliminary injunction ...
Nov 14, 2018 7:00 AM:
Rule 10b-5
[10b-5 from the section of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 pursuant to which the rule was formulated] : a rule adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission in furtherance of the Securities ...
Nov 13, 2018 7:00 AM:
Formal Rulemaking
: rulemaking by a government agency that is on the record after an opportunity for an agency hearing in accordance with the formal procedures set forth in sections 556 and 557 of the Administrative ...
Nov 12, 2018 7:00 AM:
Hard Labor
: compulsory labor imposed upon prisoners as part of a sentence or as prison discipline
Nov 11, 2018 7:00 AM:
Seaman
Sailors, mariners and persons whose business is navigating ships or who are connected with the ship and in some capacity assist in its conduct, maintenance or service.
Nov 10, 2018 7:00 AM:
Firm Offer
: a binding written offer to buy or sell that cannot be revoked for a stipulated period of time or for a reasonable time that in no event exceeds three months
Nov 9, 2018 7:00 AM:
District
: a territorial division (as of a nation, state, county, or city) for administrative, judicial, electoral, or other purposes: as a : an administrative unit esp. of a town or city established for the ...
Nov 8, 2018 7:00 AM:
Roll
1 : a document containing an official record 2 : an official list [the public relief s]: as a : a list of members of a legislative body [the clerk called the and recorded the votes] b : a list of ...
Nov 7, 2018 7:00 AM:
Refugee
: an individual seeking refuge or asylum ;esp : an individual who has left his or her native country and is unwilling or unable to return to it because of persecution or fear of persecution (as ...
Nov 6, 2018 7:00 AM:
DB & C
dwelling, buildings, and contents
Nov 5, 2018 7:00 AM:
Union
1 : an act or instance of uniting or joining two or more things into one ;esp : the formation of a single political unit from two or more separate and individual units 2 : something that is made ...
Nov 4, 2018 7:00 AM:
Country Of Nationality
The country of a person's citizenship or country in which the person is deemed a national.
Nov 3, 2018 7:00 AM:
Formal Rulemaking
: rulemaking by a government agency that is on the record after an opportunity for an agency hearing in accordance with the formal procedures set forth in sections 556 and 557 of the Administrative ...
Nov 2, 2018 7:00 AM:
Homeownership Education Classes
classes that stress the need to develop a strong credit history and offer information about how to get a mortgage approved, qualify for a loan, choose an affordable home, go through financing and ...
Nov 1, 2018 7:00 AM:
Joint Annuity
: joint life annuity at annuity
Oct 31, 2018 7:00 AM:
Ameliorative Waste
: ameliorating waste at waste
Oct 29, 2018 7:00 AM:
Nonperforming Asset
an asset such as a mortgage that is not currently accruing interest or which interest is not being paid.
Oct 28, 2018 7:00 AM:
Broken
past part of break
Oct 27, 2018 7:00 AM:
In Fraudem Legis
[Latin] : in circumvention of the rules of law
Oct 26, 2018 7:00 AM:
Borne
past part of bear
Oct 25, 2018 7:00 AM:
Show
showed shown or: showed show·ing : to demonstrate or establish by argument, reasoning, or evidence [must a compelling need for the court action] show cause : to establish by reasoning and ...
Oct 24, 2018 7:00 AM:
Exrx
executrix
Oct 23, 2018 7:00 AM:
Roi
Acronym for return on investment. ROI refers to the amount of profits or savings a business will realize from any given use of money.
Oct 22, 2018 7:00 AM:
Preclude
pre·clud·ed pre·clud·ing : to prevent or exclude by necessary consequence [the requirement of a marriage ceremony s the creation of common-law marriages in this jurisdiction]: as ...
Oct 21, 2018 7:00 AM:
Down Payment
the portion of a home's purchase price that is paid in cash and is not part of the mortgage loan. This amount varies based on the loan type, but is determined by taking the difference of the sale ...
Oct 20, 2018 7:00 AM:
Declaratory
: serving to declare, set forth, or explain: as a : declaring what is the existing law b : declaring a legal right or interpretation [ relief] see also declaratory judgment at judgment
Oct 19, 2018 7:00 AM:
Executrix
pl: ex·ec·u·tri·ces [-ze-kyə-trī-sēz] or: ex·ec·u·trix·es [-ze-kyə-trik-səz] : a woman who is an executor
Oct 18, 2018 7:00 AM:
Supreme Court
1 : the highest court in a nation or state ;specif cap S&C : the highest court in the judicial branch of the U.S. government that has original jurisdiction over controversies involving ...
Oct 17, 2018 7:00 AM:
Bastard
: an illegitimate child NOTE: The word bastard is no longer used in legal contexts. bas·tardy [bas-tər-dē] n
Oct 16, 2018 7:00 AM:
Lawsuit
: an action brought in a court for the purpose of seeking relief from or remedy for an alleged wrong : suit
Oct 15, 2018 7:00 AM:
Total Disability
: a degree of disability considered sufficient (as according to statute or in an insurance policy) to make one unable to engage in gainful work
Oct 14, 2018 7:00 AM:
Cotenancy
pl: -cies : joint tenancy at tenancy
Oct 13, 2018 7:00 AM:
Delinquency
pl: -cies 1 a : the quality or state of being delinquent b : juvenile delinquency [contributing to the of a minor] 2 : a debt on which payment is overdue [consumer loan delinquencies]
Oct 12, 2018 7:00 AM:
Report Out
: to return after consideration and often with revisions to a legislative body for action [after much debate the committee reported the bill out]
Oct 11, 2018 7:00 AM:
Collateralize
-ized -iz·ing 1 : to make (a loan) secure with collateral 2 : to use (as securities) for collateral
Oct 10, 2018 7:00 AM:
Insolvent
1 : having ceased paying or unable to pay debts as they fall due in the usual course of business compare bankrupt 2 : having liabilities in excess of a reasonable market value of assets held 3 : ...
Oct 9, 2018 7:00 AM:
Court Of Admiralty
:admiralty
Oct 8, 2018 7:00 AM:
Ineffective Assistance Of Counsel
:representation of a criminal defendant that is so flawed as to deprive the defendant of a fair trial [claimed ineffective assistance of counsel following his conviction] called also ineffective ...
Oct 7, 2018 7:00 AM:
Single Publication Rule
: a rule in the law of libel that treats an edition of a print source (as a magazine) as one publication giving rise to one cause of action for libel regardless of how many copies were printed and ...
Oct 6, 2018 7:00 AM:
Donation In Disguise
:disguised donation at donation
Oct 5, 2018 7:00 AM:
Disparagement Of Property
1 : disparagement 2 : slander of title
Oct 4, 2018 7:00 AM:
Modification
when a lender agrees to modify the terms of a mortgage without refinancing the loan.
Oct 3, 2018 7:00 AM:
Causal
1 : of, relating to, or constituting a cause [ negligence] 2 : involving causation or a cause [no relationship between driving without insurance and the accident "National Law Journal"] [a link ...
Oct 2, 2018 7:00 AM:
Irreparable Injury
: serious injury to a party that justifies relief esp. by preliminary injunction called also irreparable damage irreparable harm NOTE: Typical irreparable injury is not remediable by monetary ...
Oct 1, 2018 7:00 AM:
Petitory
[Latin petitorius of a claim to ownership, from petere to go to or toward, seek, request] : made under admiralty or civil law to establish a right to ownership rather than to possession of property ...
Sep 30, 2018 7:00 AM:
Indorse
indorsee indorsement in·dor·s·er var of endorse endorsee endorsement endorser used primarily in the context of the Uniform Commercial Code
Sep 29, 2018 7:00 AM:
Cash Surrender Value
: the amount of money an insurer will pay the insured upon surrender of a life insurance policy usually calculated as the reserve held by the insurer against the policy less a charge for surrender ...
Sep 28, 2018 7:00 AM:
Strip
pl: STRIPs [separate trading of registered interest and principal of securities] : a Treasury security that entitles the investor usually to payment of interest or principal exclusively and that is ...
Sep 27, 2018 7:00 AM:
Simplified Employee Pension
: a pension that is funded by employer contributions or through a salary reduction arrangement and that places fewer administrative burdens on the employer than do other plans and allows employer ...
Sep 26, 2018 7:00 AM:
Resident
: one who has a residence in a particular place but does not necessarily have the status of a citizen compare citizen, domiciliary resident adj
Sep 25, 2018 7:00 AM:
Whole Law
: the entire body of laws of a state including its provisions for conflict of laws compare internal law, renvoi
Sep 24, 2018 7:00 AM:
Conspiratorial
: of, relating to, or suggestive of a conspiracy con·spir·a·tor·i·al·ly adv
Sep 23, 2018 7:00 AM:
State's Attorney
: a district attorney that represents a state compare united states attorney
Sep 22, 2018 7:00 AM:
Fieri Facias
[Medieval Latin, literally, may you cause it to be done, from words used in the writ, typically de terris et cattalis fieri facias may you raise from the lands and chattels (of the defendant) (a ...
Sep 21, 2018 7:00 AM:
Limited Forum
: limited public forum
Sep 20, 2018 7:00 AM:
Cancelled Without Prejudice
A stamp an embassy or consulate puts on a visa when there is a mistake in the visa or the visa is a duplicate visa (two of the same kind). It does not affect the validity of other visas in the ...
Sep 19, 2018 7:00 AM:
International Application
Allows a trademark owner to seek registration in any of the countries that have joined the Madrid Protocol by filing a single application.
Sep 18, 2018 7:00 AM:
Lie
lay [lā] lain [lān] ly·ing : to be sustainable or capable of being maintained : have grounds under the law [holding that an action of battery would "Scott v. Bradford, 606 P.2d 554 ...
Sep 17, 2018 7:00 AM:
Ordinary Care
1 : due care 2 : conformity to the reasonable business standards that prevail in a particular area for a particular business
Sep 16, 2018 7:00 AM:
Registry
pl: -tries 1 : registration [an instrument filed for in the conveyance records "Louisiana Civil Code"] 2 : the nationality of a ship according to its entry in a register 3 : a place of ...
Sep 15, 2018 7:00 AM:
Undertenant
: a tenant (as a sublessee) who takes some part of the tenancy of another tenant (as a lessee) used esp. in New York
Sep 14, 2018 7:00 AM:
Counterpart
: one of two corresponding or duplicate copies of a legal instrument
Sep 13, 2018 7:00 AM:
Vouch
[Anglo-French voucher to call, summon, summon to court as guarantor of a title, ultimately from Latin vocare to call, summon] vt 1 : to summon into court 2 : to verify (a business transaction) by ...
Sep 12, 2018 7:00 AM:
Shoplift
: to steal displayed goods from a store vt : to steal (displayed goods) from a store
Sep 11, 2018 7:00 AM:
Officer
1 : one charged with administering or enforcing the law [a police ] 2 : one who holds an office of trust, authority, or command [the directors, s, employees, and shareholders of a corporation] 3 : ...
Sep 10, 2018 7:00 AM:
Consecutive
: following one after the other in order con·sec·u·tive·ly adv
Sep 9, 2018 7:00 AM:
Reverse Discrimination
: discrimination against whites or males (as in employment or education)
Sep 8, 2018 7:00 AM:
Real Estate Mortgage Investment Conduit
: remic
Sep 7, 2018 7:00 AM:
Presidency
pl: -cies 1 a : the office of president b : the office of president of the U.S. ;also : the American governmental institution comprising the office of president and various associated ...
Sep 6, 2018 7:00 AM:
Sub Nom.
sub nomine
Sep 5, 2018 7:00 AM:
Equity Loan
: home equity loan at loan
Sep 4, 2018 7:00 AM:
Fee Simple Subject To Condition Subsequent
:fee simple on condition subsequent at fee simple
Sep 3, 2018 7:00 AM:
Counselor-At-Law
pl: counselors-at-law : counsel compare attorney-at-law
Sep 2, 2018 7:00 AM:
Allegedly
: by or according to an allegation [defendant's response showed malice]
Sep 1, 2018 7:00 AM:
Tender
1 a : an act or instance of tendering b : an unconditional offer of payment or performance (as in discharge of an obligation) that is coupled with a manifestation of willingness and ability to ...
Aug 31, 2018 7:00 AM:
Steal
stole sto·len steal·ing [Old English stelan] : to take or appropriate without right or consent and with intent to keep or make use of see also robbery, theft
Aug 30, 2018 7:00 AM:
Doa
dead on arrival
Aug 29, 2018 7:00 AM:
Vendee
: one to whom a thing is sold
Aug 28, 2018 7:00 AM:
Reserve Price
: a price announced at an auction as the lowest that will be considered
Aug 27, 2018 7:00 AM:
Alias
[Latin, otherwise, from alius other] : otherwise called : also known as [John Thomas Nolan, Legs Diamond]
Aug 26, 2018 7:00 AM:
Imprisonment
a term in prison served by an offender as part of a criminal sentence.
Aug 25, 2018 7:00 AM:
Usurer
: one that engages in usury
Aug 24, 2018 7:00 AM:
Last Antecedent Rule
: a doctrine in the interpretation of statutes: qualifying words or phrases refer only to the last antecedent word or phrase unless the context or entire act clearly requires otherwise called also ...
Aug 23, 2018 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)
Aug 22, 2018 7:00 AM:
International Representative
As a nonimmigrant class of admission, an alien coming temporarily to the United States as a principal or other accredited representative of a foreign government (whether officially recognized or not ...
Aug 21, 2018 7:00 AM:
Juror
: a member of a jury [an alternate ] ;broadly : an individual who is summoned but not yet selected to serve on a jury
Aug 20, 2018 7:00 AM:
Collateral Agreement
: an agreement related to and consistent with but independent of a larger written agreement
Aug 19, 2018 7:00 AM:
Mortgage Banker
a company that originates loans and resells them to secondary mortgage lenders like Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac.
Aug 18, 2018 7:00 AM:
Prior Consistent Statement
: a witness's statement made out of court prior to testifying that is consistent with the witness's testimony compare prior inconsistent statement NOTE: A prior consistent statement may be offered as ...
Aug 17, 2018 7:00 AM:
Deal
dealt deal·ing vt : to carry on the business of buying or esp. selling (something) [ing drugs] vi 1 : to engage in bargaining 2 : to sell or distribute something as a business or for money ...
Aug 16, 2018 7:00 AM:
Obligee
: one (as a creditor) to whom another is legally obligated [an protected by a surety bond] compare debtor, obligor
Aug 15, 2018 7:00 AM:
Believe
be·lieved be·liev·ing : to consider to be true or honest
Aug 14, 2018 7:00 AM:
Parliamentary Government
: a system of government having the real executive power vested in a cabinet composed of members of the legislature who are individually and collectively responsible to the legislature
Aug 13, 2018 7:00 AM:
Pap
personal automobile policy
Aug 12, 2018 7:00 AM:
Going Concern Value
: the value of the assets of an enterprise or of the enterprise itself considered as an operating business and therefore based on earning power and prospects rather than on the value of the same ...
Aug 11, 2018 7:00 AM:
Robe
: the legal profession ;esp : the position of a judge usually used with the [[his]…decision to decline the "H. B. Zobel"]
Aug 10, 2018 7:00 AM:
Substantial Right
: an important or essential right that merits enforcement or protection by the law : a right related to a matter of substance as distinguished from a matter of form