The FindLaw Legal Dictionary -- free access to over 8260 definitions of legal terms. Search for a definition or browse our legal glossaries.
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 ...
Dec 15, 2018 7:00 AM:
Tax Roll
: a record of the properties in a taxing district that includes the taxes due and paid on each property and is sometimes combined with a record of assessed values
Dec 14, 2018 7:00 AM:
Continuing
1 : marked by uninterrupted extension in time or sequence [a criminal enterprise] 2 : needing no renewal [ shareholders]
Dec 13, 2018 7:00 AM:
Non Prosequitur
[Late Latin, he or she does not prosecute] : a judgment entered against a plaintiff for failure to appear to prosecute a suit compare nolle prosequi
Dec 12, 2018 7:00 AM:
Investigative Stop
: terry stop
Dec 11, 2018 7:00 AM:
Pre-Inspection
Complete immigration inspection of airport passengers before departure from a foreign country. No further immigration inspection is required upon arrival in the United States other than submission of ...
Dec 10, 2018 7:00 AM:
Fdic
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation see also the Important Agencies section
Dec 9, 2018 7:00 AM:
Automobile Guest Statute
: guest statute
Dec 8, 2018 7:00 AM:
Inevitable Accident
: an accident not caused by human negligence compare act of god, force majeure, fortuitous event
Dec 7, 2018 7:00 AM:
Rev'd
reversed
Dec 6, 2018 7:00 AM:
Sunday Closing Law
: a law that requires certain commercial establishments to close on Sundays or that restricts the sales that may be made on that day
Dec 5, 2018 7:00 AM:
Zba
zero bracket amount
Dec 4, 2018 7:00 AM:
Jus
pl: ju·ra [jər-ə, yü-rÄ ] [Latin] 1 : law 2 : a legal principle or right
Dec 3, 2018 7:00 AM:
Accrete
ac·cret·ed ac·cret·ing vi : to grow or become attached by accretion vt : to cause to adhere or become attached
Dec 2, 2018 7:00 AM:
Conference Committee
: a joint committee that is appointed to hold a conference on differing versions of a bill
Dec 1, 2018 7:00 AM:
Employment
1 : an activity or service performed for another esp. for compensation or as an occupation 2 : the act of employing : the state of being employed
Nov 30, 2018 7:00 AM:
Lucri Causa
[New Latin, literally, for the sake of gain] : intent to obtain a gain [because lucri causa is required for larceny "W. R. LaFave and A. W. Scott, Jr."]
Nov 29, 2018 7:00 AM:
Defensive
1 : serving to defend or as part of a defense [a pleading] 2 : devoted to resisting or preventing aggressive actions [a recapitalization…to escape a takeover attempt "Barbara Franklin"] ...
Nov 28, 2018 7:00 AM:
Arraignment
a proceeding in which a person accused of committing a crime is brought into court, told of the charges, and asked to plead guilty or not guilty.
Nov 27, 2018 7:00 AM:
Falsification
: an act or instance of falsifying
Nov 26, 2018 7:00 AM:
Price-Fixing
: the usually illegal setting of prices artificially (as by producers) contrary to free market operations see also horizontal price-fixing, vertical price-fixing
Nov 25, 2018 7:00 AM:
D'oench Doctrine
[from D'Oench, Duhme & Co., Inc. v. Federal Deposit Insurance Company, 315 U.S. 447 (1942), the Supreme Court case establishing the doctrine] : a doctrine in banking law: a party (as a borrower ...
Nov 24, 2018 7:00 AM:
Controlling
1 a : exercising domination or influence [the principles of law] b : dispositive [judgment debtor's stipulation to pay a specified amount is not "J. H. Friedenthal et al."] 2 : having controlling ...
Nov 23, 2018 7:00 AM:
Gaol
gaol·er chiefly Brit var of jail jailer
Nov 22, 2018 7:00 AM:
Disable
dis·abled dis·abl·ing 1 : to deprive of legal right, qualification, or capacity 2 : to make incapable or ineffective ;specif : to cause to have a disability dis·able·ment ...
Nov 21, 2018 7:00 AM:
Record Date
: the date on which a corporation determines the identity of its shareholders and their holdings (as for determining who is entitled to notice of a shareholder meeting or who is entitled to vote at ...
Nov 20, 2018 7:00 AM:
Ex Post Facto
[Late Latin, literally, from a thing done afterward] : after the fact : retroactively [cannot judge ex post facto]
Nov 19, 2018 7:00 AM:
Bodily Injury Liability
Insurance coverage that applies when you are legally liable for injuring other people in an auto accident. Bodily injury liability provides payments to those injured individuals and pays your legal ...
Nov 18, 2018 7:00 AM:
Full Age
: age of majority
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