FindLaw Legal Dictionary

Legal Term of the Day

• Aug 4, 2020 7:00 AM:  As Is Clause
  : a clause in an agreement providing that the buyer accepts the item for sale in its presently existing condition without modification or repair NOTE: Under Uniform Commercial Code section 2-316, an ...

• Aug 3, 2020 7:00 AM:  Bachelor Of Laws
  1 : the lowest degree conferred by a law school in Canada and formerly in the U.S. see also juris doctor 2 : an undergraduate degree in law conferred by a school of law in England and Wales

• Aug 2, 2020 7:00 AM:  Carryback
  : the portion of an income tax deduction (as for a net operating loss) or credit which cannot be taken entirely in a given period and which may be deducted from taxable income of a prior period ...

• Aug 1, 2020 7:00 AM:  Main Purpose Rule
  : a doctrine in contract law: a promise to pay the debt of another need not be in writing to be enforceable if the promisor was motivated by a desire for advantage or benefit called also leading ...

• Jul 31, 2020 7:00 AM:  Proscribe
  pro·scribed pro·scrib·ing [Latin proscribere to publish, proscribe, from pro- before + scribere to write] : to condemn or forbid as harmful or unlawful

• Jul 30, 2020 7:00 AM:  Comptroller General
  : the accounting officer of the U.S. who investigates financial claims against or on behalf of the government

• Jul 29, 2020 7:00 AM:  Group Boycott
  : an agreed-upon refusal by competitors to deal with another business unless it refrains from dealing with a potential competitor trying to enter the market

• Jul 28, 2020 7:00 AM:  Animus Furandi
  [New Latin] : the intent to steal

• Jul 27, 2020 7:00 AM:  Trust Instrument
  : a document (as a formal declaration of trust or trust agreement) embodying the creation and provision of a trust

• Jul 26, 2020 7:00 AM:  Prospective
  1 : relating to or effective in the future [a statute's effect] 2 : likely to come about : expected to happen [ inability to perform the contract] 3 : likely to be or become [a buyer] ...

• Jul 25, 2020 7:00 AM:  Court Interpreter
  a court employee who orally translates what is said in court from English into the language of a non-English-speaking party or witness and translates that person's testimony into English.

• Jul 24, 2020 7:00 AM:  Union Mortgage Clause
  : standard mortgage clause

• Jul 23, 2020 7:00 AM:  Final Argument
  : an argument made to the jury or to the judge in a bench trial by both sides of a case after all the evidence has been presented

• Jul 22, 2020 7:00 AM:  Salvage Value
  1 : the value of damaged property 2 : the actual or estimated value realized on the sale of a fixed asset at the end of its useful life NOTE: Salvage value is used in calculating depreciation.

• Jul 21, 2020 7:00 AM:  Predictive Variables
  The variables that are part of the formula comprising elements of a credit-scoring model. These variables are used to predict a borrower's future credit performance.

• Jul 20, 2020 7:00 AM:  Liberative
  : serving to free or release (as from ownership or obligation) [the effects of tender and deposit]

• Jul 19, 2020 7:00 AM:  Absentee Ballot
  : a ballot submitted (as by mail) in advance of an election by a voter who is unable to be present at the polls

• Jul 18, 2020 7:00 AM:  Bench Ruling
  : an oral ruling on a case given by the judge while still on the bench

• Jul 17, 2020 7:00 AM:  Special Grand Jury
  : a grand jury summoned by a court usually at its discretion in addition to or in place of the regular grand jury (as when the regular grand jury has already been discharged)

• Jul 16, 2020 7:00 AM:  Majoritarian
  : characterized by the rule or decisions of a majority [ politics]

• Jul 15, 2020 7:00 AM:  Possessory
  1 : of, arising from, involving, or having the nature of possession [ rights] [a action] 2 : having possession [a owner]

• Jul 14, 2020 7:00 AM:  Country Of Citizenship
  The country in which a person is born (and has not renounced or lost citizenship) or naturalized and to which that person owes allegiance and by which he or she is entitled to be protected.

• Jul 13, 2020 7:00 AM:  Notice Of Publication
  A written statement from the USPTO notifying an applicant that its mark will be published in the Official Gazette.

• Jul 12, 2020 7:00 AM:  Trustee Process
  : the process of attachment by garnishment used esp. in the northeastern U.S.

• Jul 11, 2020 7:00 AM:  Several
  [Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin separalis, from Latin separ separate] 1 a : of or relating separately to each individual involved ;specif : enforceable separately against each party [each ...

• Jul 10, 2020 7:00 AM:  Deduction
  1 : an amount allowed by tax laws to be subtracted from income in order to decrease the amount of income tax due see also Internal Revenue Code in the Important Laws section compare credit, ...

• Jul 9, 2020 7:00 AM:  Abusive
  1 : characterized by wrong or improper use or action [ tax shelters] 2 : inflicting verbal or physical abuse [ parents] abu·sive·ly adv

• Jul 8, 2020 7:00 AM:  Title Company
  a company that specializes in examining and insuring titles to real estate.

• Jul 7, 2020 7:00 AM:  Honor
  hon·ored hon·or·ing 1 : to accept and pay [the bank ed the check] 2 : to purchase or discount (a draft) in compliance with a letter of credit

• Jul 6, 2020 7:00 AM:  Mental Disturbance
  : emotional distress

• Jul 5, 2020 7:00 AM:  Consanguinity
  : the quality or state of being consanguineous

• Jul 4, 2020 7:00 AM:  Accession
  1 : increase by something added ;specif : the mode of acquiring property by which the owner of property (as a building, land, or cattle) becomes the owner of an addition by growth, improvement, ...

• Jul 3, 2020 7:00 AM:  Same Evidence Test
  : a test for double jeopardy that involves a determination of whether the same facts would support both a prior and second conviction

• Jul 2, 2020 7:00 AM:  Pretrial
  : existing or occurring before trial [a motion] [a detainee]

• Jul 1, 2020 7:00 AM:  Constructive
  : created by a legal fiction: as a : inferred by a judicial construction or interpretation b : not actual but implied by operation of the law [made a entry when he refused to take the opportunity ...

• Jun 30, 2020 7:00 AM:  Actuary
  pl: -ar·ies : a person who calculates insurance and annuity premiums, reserves, and dividends

• Jun 29, 2020 7:00 AM:  Pbgc
  Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation see also Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration in the Important Agencies section

• Jun 28, 2020 7:00 AM:  Scheduled
  : insured or effective in accordance with a schedule listing particular property, injuries, or services covered [ personal property] [ coverage]

• Jun 27, 2020 7:00 AM:  Defame
  de·famed de·fam·ing [Medieval Latin defamare, alteration of Latin diffamare to spread news of, defame, from dis-, prefix marking dispersal or removal + fama reputation] : to make the ...

• Jun 26, 2020 7:00 AM:  Council
  : a governmental body: as a : a group elected as a legislative body [city ] b : an administrative body [ on aging] c : an executive body whose members are equal in power and authority compare ...

• Jun 25, 2020 7:00 AM:  Personal Service
  1 : a service based on the intellectual or manual efforts of an individual (as for salary or wages) rather than a salable product of his or her skills 2 : physical delivery of process to a person to ...

• Jun 24, 2020 7:00 AM:  Framer
  : a drafter of legislation ;specif cap : one of the drafters of the U.S. Constitution and esp. of the articles and the Bill of Rights

• Jun 23, 2020 7:00 AM:  Immigration And Naturalization Service (Ins)
  A branch of the Department of Justice that formerly existed and had responsibility for immigration and naturalization. INS was renamed and became part of Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on March ...

• Jun 22, 2020 7:00 AM:  Per Stirpes
  [Latin, by familial stocks] : by right of representation [the estate was divided per stirpes] used of a method of distributing an esp. intestate estate compare per capita NOTE: Per stirpes ...

• Jun 21, 2020 7:00 AM:  Relief
  : redress, assistance, or protection given by law esp. from a court [should state what the plaintiff seeks]: as a : release from obligation or duty [ from judgment] b : an order from a court ...

• Jun 20, 2020 7:00 AM:  Vertical Price-Fixing
  : an illegal arrangement in which parties at different levels of a system of production and distribution act to fix the market price of goods ;esp : resale price maintenance compare horizontal ...

• Jun 19, 2020 7:00 AM:  Evasive
  : tending or intending to evade NOTE: Under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 37(a)(3), an evasive or incomplete answer to an interrogatory or to a question at a deposition is treated as a failure to ...

• Jun 18, 2020 7:00 AM:  Hiring Hall
  : a union-operated placement office where registered applicants are referred to jobs usually in the order of their registration

• Jun 17, 2020 7:00 AM:  Executory Contract Or Lease
  Generally includes contracts or leases under which both parties to the agreement have duties remaining to be performed. (If a contract or lease is executory, a debtor may assume it or reject it.)

• Jun 16, 2020 7:00 AM:  Grievance
  1 : a cause of distress (as an unsatisfactory working condition or unfair labor practice) felt to afford a reason for complaint or dispute ;esp : a violation of a collective bargaining agreement ...

• Jun 15, 2020 7:00 AM:  X
  often cap 1 : a mark used in place of a signature when the maker is incapable of signing his or her name (as because of illiteracy or a physical ailment) 2 : a mark used in indicating a choice or ...

• Jun 14, 2020 7:00 AM:  Consortium
  pl: -sor·tia [-shə, -shē-ə] also: -sortiums [Latin, sharing, partnership, from consort- consors sharer, partner] 1 : an agreement, combination, or group (as of companies) formed ...

• Jun 13, 2020 7:00 AM:  Power Of Appointment
  :a power granted under a deed or will authorizing the donee to dispose of an estate in a specified manner for the benefit of the donee or of others general power of appointment : a power of ...

• Jun 12, 2020 7:00 AM:  Chapter 11 (Business Reorganization)
  A petition designed to reorganize business debt. The business normally is permitted to continue its operations under court supervision until some plan of reorganization is approved by the creditors.

• Jun 11, 2020 7:00 AM:  Argue
  ar·gued ar·gu·ing vi 1 : to give reasons for or against a matter in dispute [arguing for an extension] 2 : to present a case in court [will for the defense] vt 1 a : to give reasons ...

• Jun 10, 2020 7:00 AM:  Pleading
  1 a : one of the formal declarations (as a complaint or answer) exchanged by the parties in a legal proceeding (as a suit) setting forth claims, averments, allegations, denials, or defenses ;also : ...

• Jun 9, 2020 7:00 AM:  Bailee
  : an individual or entity (as a business organization) having possession of another's personal property under a bailment NOTE: Carriers and warehouses are two examples of bailees. A bailee's ...

• Jun 8, 2020 7:00 AM:  Recourse
  1 a : the act of turning to someone or something for assistance esp. in obtaining redress b : a means to a desired end esp. in the nature of a remedy or justice ;also : the end itself 2 : the ...

• Jun 7, 2020 7:00 AM:  Acceleration Clause
  : a clause (as in a loan agreement) that accelerates the date of payment in full under specified circumstances (as default by the debtor)

• Jun 6, 2020 7:00 AM:  Piti Reserves
  a cash amount that a borrower must have on hand after making a down payment and paying all closing costs for the purchase of a home. The principal, interest, taxes, and insurance (PITI) reserves must ...

• Jun 5, 2020 7:00 AM:  Finality
  1 : the state or condition of being final 2 : the principle that appeals may only be taken from final orders or judgments

• Jun 4, 2020 7:00 AM:  Deferred
  : withheld or delayed for or until a stated time [a payment] [ prosecution]

• Jun 3, 2020 7:00 AM:  Trademark Trial And Appeal Board
  An administrative tribunal at the USPTO. It has jurisdiction over appeals from decisions of the Trademark Office, as well as opposition proceedings and cancellation proceedings.

• Jun 2, 2020 7:00 AM:  Occupation
  For an alien entering the United States or adjusting without a labor certification, occupation refers to the employment held in the country of last legal residence or in the United States. For an ...

• Jun 1, 2020 7:00 AM:  Jailer
  : a keeper of a jail

• May 31, 2020 7:00 AM:  Justice Court
  : justice of the peace court

• May 30, 2020 7:00 AM:  No-Duty Doctrine
  : a doctrine in tort law: a defendant cannot be held liable for an injury if no duty is owed to the plaintiff ;specif : a doctrine holding that a person in possession of property is under no duty to ...

• May 29, 2020 7:00 AM:  Terrorize
  -ized -iz·ing : to inflict terror upon ter·ror·i·za·tion [ter-ər-ə-zā-shən] n

• May 28, 2020 7:00 AM:  Ja
  judge advocate

• May 27, 2020 7:00 AM:  Nonconsumable
  : a thing (as land, furniture, or shares of stock) that may be enjoyed without altering its substance except for natural deterioration over time

• May 26, 2020 7:00 AM:  Notice Of Publication
  A written statement from the USPTO notifying an applicant that its mark will be published in the Official Gazette.

• May 25, 2020 7:00 AM:  Year-And-A-Day Rule
  : a common-law rule that relieves a defendant of responsibility for homicide if the victim lives for more than one year and one day after being injured NOTE: The year-and-a-day rule, which dates from ...

• May 24, 2020 7:00 AM:  Pal
  passive activity loss

• May 23, 2020 7:00 AM:  Adjusted Gross Income
  : an individual's gross income decreased by the amount of deductions allowed esp. for business expenses

• May 22, 2020 7:00 AM:  Collateral Order Doctrine
  : an exception to the final judgment rule that allows review of orders conclusively determining a disputed question when the question is independent and separable from the rest of the case for ...

• May 21, 2020 7:00 AM:  House Of Delegates
  :house ;esp : the lower house of the state legislature in Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia

• May 20, 2020 7:00 AM:  State Law
  : the law of a state ;specif : a law or body of laws promulgated by a state legislature

• May 19, 2020 7:00 AM:  App
  appeals

• May 18, 2020 7:00 AM:  Equity Of Redemption
  1 : the right of a defaulting mortgagor to redeem the mortgaged property before an absolute foreclosure 2 : the interest or estate remaining to a mortgagor in mortgaged property ;also : the value ...

• May 17, 2020 7:00 AM:  Nonassignable
  : not assignable

• May 16, 2020 7:00 AM:  Warrant Of Attorney
  :a power of attorney authorizing another (as an attorney) to appear in court and confess judgment on the grantor's behalf

• May 15, 2020 7:00 AM:  Noncontrolling
  : not controlling

• May 14, 2020 7:00 AM:  Ex Relatione
  [Medieval Latin] : by or on the relation or information of NOTE: The abbreviation for ex relatione ex rel., is used in the title of informations and special proceedings to designate the interested ...

• May 13, 2020 7:00 AM:  Substantial Factor
  : an important or significant factor that is not necessarily the only factor leading to a plaintiff's injury but is sufficient to have caused the injury by itself compare but-for

• May 12, 2020 7:00 AM:  Loan Fraud
  purposely giving incorrect information on a loan application in order to better qualify for a loan; may result in civil liability or criminal penalties.

• May 11, 2020 7:00 AM:  Upgrade A Petition
  If you naturalize (become an American citizen) you may ask the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to change the petitions you filed for family members when you were a lawful permanent resident ...

• May 10, 2020 7:00 AM:  Cohabit
  : to live together as a married couple or in the manner of a married couple co·hab·i·ta·tion [kō-ha-bə-tā-shən] n

• May 9, 2020 7:00 AM:  Bailiff
  [Anglo-French, steward, king's official, from bail stewardship, custody, handing over see bail ] : an officer of some courts in the U.S. whose duties usually include keeping order in the courtroom ...

• May 8, 2020 7:00 AM:  Opportunity Cost
  : the cost of making an investment that is the difference between the return on one investment and the return on an alternative

• May 7, 2020 7:00 AM:  Fed. Reg.
  Federal Register

• May 6, 2020 7:00 AM:  Expressly
  : in an express manner : in definite and distinct terms [acceptance is conditional]

• May 5, 2020 7:00 AM:  Principal Register
  Primary trademark register of the USPTO. When a mark has been registered on the Principal Register, the mark is entitled to all the rights provided by federal law.

• May 4, 2020 7:00 AM:  Small Business
  : an independently owned and operated business that is not dominant in its field of operation and conforms to standards set by the Small Business Administration or by state law regarding number of ...

• May 3, 2020 7:00 AM:  Prime Minister
  1 : the chief minister of a ruler or state 2 : the official head of a cabinet or ministry ;esp : the chief executive of a parliamentary government prime min·is·te·ri·al ...

• May 2, 2020 7:00 AM:  Joint Enterprise
  1 : joint venture 2 : an undertaking of two or more parties for a common purpose in which each shares a common interest and an equal right of control (as of a vehicle) NOTE: In regard to a tort ...

• May 1, 2020 7:00 AM:  Acquittance
  : acquittal

• Apr 30, 2020 7:00 AM:  In Utero
  [Latin] : in the uterus : before birth [an injury suffered in utero] [that her condition could possibly be linked to in utero exposure "Burgess v. Eli Lilly & Co., 995 F.2d 646 (1993)"]

• Apr 29, 2020 7:00 AM:  Patrimony
  pl: -nies [Middle French patrimonie, from Latin patrimonium, from patr- pater father] 1 : an estate inherited from one's father or ancestor [to deprive her and her coheirs of their "Wells Fargo Bank ...

• Apr 28, 2020 7:00 AM:  Littoral Right
  : the right of one owning littoral land to have access to and use of the shore and water

• Apr 27, 2020 7:00 AM:  Circumstantial
  : belonging to, consisting in, or dependent on circumstances cir·cum·stan·tial·ly adv