FindLaw Legal Dictionary

Legal Term of the Day

• Jan 16, 2022 7:00 AM:  Insider Trading
  What is 'Insider Trading'? Learn more about legal terms and the law at FindLaw.com

• Jan 15, 2022 7:00 AM:  Pacta Sunt Servanda
  What is 'Pacta Sunt Servanda'? Learn more about legal terms and the law at FindLaw.com

• Jan 14, 2022 7:00 AM:  Consecutive
  What is 'Consecutive'? Learn more about legal terms and the law at FindLaw.com

• Jan 13, 2022 7:00 AM:  Presumption
  What is 'Presumption'? Learn more about legal terms and the law at FindLaw.com

• Jan 12, 2022 7:00 AM:  Prime Rate
  What is 'Prime Rate'? Learn more about legal terms and the law at FindLaw.com

• Jan 11, 2022 7:00 AM:  Non-Conforming Loan
  What is 'Non-Conforming Loan'? Learn more about legal terms and the law at FindLaw.com

• Jan 10, 2022 7:00 AM:  Court Of Equity
  What is 'Court Of Equity'? Learn more about legal terms and the law at FindLaw.com

• Jan 10, 2022 12:34 AM:  Turpitude
  What is 'Turpitude'? Learn more about legal terms and the law at FindLaw.com

• Jan 9, 2022 7:00 AM:  Foreman
  What is 'Foreman'? Learn more about legal terms and the law at FindLaw.com

• Jan 8, 2022 7:00 AM:  Implicit
  What is 'Implicit'? Learn more about legal terms and the law at FindLaw.com

• Jan 7, 2022 7:00 AM:  Warehouse Receipt
  What is 'Warehouse Receipt'? Learn more about legal terms and the law at FindLaw.com

• Jan 6, 2022 7:00 AM:  Write Down
  What is 'Write Down'? Learn more about legal terms and the law at FindLaw.com

• Jan 5, 2022 7:00 AM:  Mistake
  What is 'Mistake'? Learn more about legal terms and the law at FindLaw.com

• Jan 4, 2022 7:00 AM:  Ip Address
  What is 'Ip Address'? Learn more about legal terms and the law at FindLaw.com

• Jan 3, 2022 7:00 AM:  Opportunity For Comment
  What is 'Opportunity For Comment'? Learn more about legal terms and the law at FindLaw.com

• Jan 2, 2022 7:00 AM:  Reasonable Care
  What is 'Reasonable Care'? Learn more about legal terms and the law at FindLaw.com

• Jan 1, 2022 7:00 AM:  Scheme
  What is 'Scheme'? Learn more about legal terms and the law at FindLaw.com

• Dec 31, 2021 7:00 AM:  Ordinary And Necessary Expense
  What is 'Ordinary And Necessary Expense'? Learn more about legal terms and the law at FindLaw.com

• Dec 30, 2021 7:00 AM:  Retaliate
  What is 'Retaliate'? Learn more about legal terms and the law at FindLaw.com

• Dec 29, 2021 7:00 AM:  Enacting Clause
  What is 'Enacting Clause'? Learn more about legal terms and the law at FindLaw.com

• Dec 28, 2021 7:00 AM:  Net Income
  What is 'Net Income'? Learn more about legal terms and the law at FindLaw.com

• Dec 27, 2021 7:00 AM:  Debtor's Estate
  What is 'Debtor's Estate'? Learn more about legal terms and the law at FindLaw.com

• Dec 26, 2021 7:00 AM:  No Evidence
  What is 'No Evidence'? Learn more about legal terms and the law at FindLaw.com

• Dec 25, 2021 7:00 AM:  Regulator
  What is 'Regulator'? Learn more about legal terms and the law at FindLaw.com

• Dec 24, 2021 7:00 AM:  Search Warrant
  What is 'Search Warrant'? Learn more about legal terms and the law at FindLaw.com

• Dec 24, 2021 2:16 AM:  Sale
  What is 'Sale'? Learn more about legal terms and the law at FindLaw.com

• Dec 23, 2021 7:00 AM:  Immune
  What is 'Immune'? Learn more about legal terms and the law at FindLaw.com

• Dec 22, 2021 7:00 AM:  Consumer Goods
  What is 'Consumer Goods'? Learn more about legal terms and the law at FindLaw.com

• Dec 21, 2021 7:00 AM:  Abduction
  What is 'Abduction'? Learn more about legal terms and the law at FindLaw.com

• Dec 20, 2021 7:00 AM:  Unscheduled Debt
  What is 'Unscheduled Debt'? Learn more about legal terms and the law at FindLaw.com

• Dec 19, 2021 7:00 AM:  Assault And Battery
  What is 'Assault And Battery'? Learn more about legal terms and the law at FindLaw.com

• Dec 18, 2021 7:00 AM:  Conscientious Objection
  What is 'Conscientious Objection'? Learn more about legal terms and the law at FindLaw.com

• Dec 17, 2021 7:00 AM:  Donatio Inter Vivos
  What is 'Donatio Inter Vivos'? Learn more about legal terms and the law at FindLaw.com

• Dec 16, 2021 7:00 AM:  Book
  What is 'Book'? Learn more about legal terms and the law at FindLaw.com

• Dec 15, 2021 7:00 AM:  Punitive Damages
  What is 'Punitive Damages'? Learn more about legal terms and the law at FindLaw.com

• Dec 14, 2021 7:00 AM:  Seise
  What is 'Seise'? Learn more about legal terms and the law at FindLaw.com

• Dec 13, 2021 7:00 AM:  Inferior Court
  What is 'Inferior Court'? Learn more about legal terms and the law at FindLaw.com

• Dec 13, 2021 12:08 AM:  Cognizance
  What is 'Cognizance'? Learn more about legal terms and the law at FindLaw.com

• Dec 12, 2021 7:00 AM:  Securitize
  What is 'Securitize'? Learn more about legal terms and the law at FindLaw.com

• Dec 11, 2021 7:00 AM:  Sba
  What is 'Sba'? Learn more about legal terms and the law at FindLaw.com

• Dec 10, 2021 7:00 AM:  Spendthrift
  What is 'Spendthrift'? Learn more about legal terms and the law at FindLaw.com

• Dec 9, 2021 7:00 AM:  Recorder
  What is 'Recorder'? Learn more about legal terms and the law at FindLaw.com

• Dec 8, 2021 7:00 AM:  Third-Party Recordkeeper
  What is 'Third-Party Recordkeeper'? Learn more about legal terms and the law at FindLaw.com

• Dec 7, 2021 7:00 AM:  Absentee Ballot
  What is 'Absentee Ballot'? Learn more about legal terms and the law at FindLaw.com

• Dec 6, 2021 7:00 AM:  Cumulative Dividend
  What is 'Cumulative Dividend'? Learn more about legal terms and the law at FindLaw.com

• Dec 5, 2021 7:00 AM:  Va Mortgage
  What is 'Va Mortgage'? Learn more about legal terms and the law at FindLaw.com

• Dec 4, 2021 7:00 AM:  Fiction
  What is 'Fiction'? Learn more about legal terms and the law at FindLaw.com

• Dec 3, 2021 7:00 AM:  Unemancipated
  What is 'Unemancipated'? Learn more about legal terms and the law at FindLaw.com

• Dec 2, 2021 7:00 AM:  Fanciful Marks
  What is 'Fanciful Marks'? Learn more about legal terms and the law at FindLaw.com

• Dec 1, 2021 7:00 AM:  Search
  What is 'Search'? Learn more about legal terms and the law at FindLaw.com

• Nov 30, 2021 7:00 AM:  Taint Hearing
  What is 'Taint Hearing'? Learn more about legal terms and the law at FindLaw.com

• Nov 29, 2021 7:00 AM:  Self-Proved
  What is 'Self-Proved'? Learn more about legal terms and the law at FindLaw.com

• Nov 29, 2021 12:13 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 ...

• Nov 28, 2021 7:00 AM:  Reverter
  [Anglo-French, from reverter to return, from Old French revertir to return, revert, from Latin revertere to turn back] 1 : reversion 2 : possibility of reverter NOTE: Although reversion and ...

• Nov 27, 2021 7:00 AM:  J.D.
  juris doctor

• Nov 26, 2021 7:00 AM:  Absolve
  ab·solved ab·solv·ing 1 : to set free or release from some obligation or responsibility [a judgment terminating a parent's rights…s that parent of all future support obligations ...

• Nov 25, 2021 7:00 AM:  Breaking And Entering
  : the act of gaining passage into and entering another's property (as a building or vehicle) without privilege or by force ;also : the crime of breaking and entering see also burglary

• Nov 24, 2021 7:00 AM:  Motive
  [Anglo-French motif, from Middle French motif adjective, moving, from Medieval Latin motivus, from Latin motus, past participle of movēre to move] : something (as a need or desire) that causes a ...

• Nov 23, 2021 7:00 AM:  Aos
  Affidavit of Support, Form I-864. A document promising that the person who completes it will support an applicant financially in the United States. Family and certain employment immigration cases ...

• Nov 22, 2021 7:00 AM:  Underinsurer
  : an insurer providing underinsurance coverage

• Nov 21, 2021 7:00 AM:  Indictment
  1 : the action or the legal process of indicting 2 a : a formal written statement framed by a prosecuting authority and found by a grand jury that charges a person or persons with an offense compare ...

• Nov 20, 2021 7:00 AM:  Interlocking Director
  : one that serves as a director of two or more corporations at one time

• Nov 19, 2021 7:00 AM:  Forcible
  : effected by force or threat of force used against opposition or resistance [a felony] for·ci·bly adv

• Nov 18, 2021 7:00 AM:  Execute
  -cut·ed -cut·ing 1 : perform : as a : to carry out fully [includes not only executed violence, but also threatened violence "Louisiana Civil Code"] b : to do what is provided or required ...

• Nov 17, 2021 7:00 AM:  Construction Loan
  a short-term, to finance the cost of building a new home. The lender pays the builder based on milestones accomplished during the building process. For example, once a sub-contractor pours the ...

• Nov 16, 2021 7:00 AM:  Favor
  1 : bias 2 : benefit in favor of : to the benefit of [a judgment in favor of the defendant] in one's favor : to one's benefit [a donation inter vivos made in his favor]

• Nov 15, 2021 7:00 AM:  Legacy Under Particular Title
  :particular legacy at legacy

• Nov 15, 2021 12:11 AM:  Negotiate
  -at·ed -at·ing vi : to confer with another so as to settle some matter vt 1 : to bring about through conference, discussion, and agreement or compromise [ a contract] 2 a : to transfer ...

• Nov 14, 2021 7:00 AM:  Respa
  Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act; a law protecting consumers from abuses during the residential real estate purchase and loan process by requiring lenders to disclose all settlement costs, ...

• Nov 13, 2021 7:00 AM:  Median Price
  the price of the house that falls in the middle of the total number of homes for sale in that area.

• Nov 12, 2021 7:00 AM:  Consent
  1 a : compliance in or approval of what is done or proposed by another ;specif : the voluntary agreement or acquiescence by a person of age or with requisite mental capacity who is not under duress ...

• Nov 11, 2021 7:00 AM:  Debt Adjustment
  : the arrangements made for the repayment or satisfaction of debts in an amount or manner that differs from the original arrangements esp. in accordance with a bankruptcy plan under chapter 13 of the ...

• Nov 10, 2021 7:00 AM:  Conditional Resident
  Any alien granted permanent resident status on a conditional basis (e.g., a spouse of a U.S. citizen; an immigrant investor), who is required to petition for the removal of the set conditions before ...

• Nov 9, 2021 7:00 AM:  Compromise
  : an agreement resolving differences by mutual concessions esp. to prevent or end a lawsuit

• Nov 8, 2021 7:00 AM:  Territorial Jurisdiction
  : jurisdiction

• Nov 7, 2021 7:00 AM:  Restrictive
  1 a : of or relating to restriction b : serving or tending to restrict 2 : prohibiting further negotiation re·stric·tive·ly adv re·stric·tive·ness n

• Nov 6, 2021 7:00 AM:  Nondeductible Terminable Interest Rule
  : a rule in estate tax law: the value of a property interest that passes to a surviving spouse may not be deducted if it passes from the surviving spouse to another person for less than adequate ...

• Nov 5, 2021 7:00 AM:  Judicial Restraint
  : a refraining in the judiciary from departure from precedent and the formulation of broad doctrine compare judicial activism

• Nov 4, 2021 7:00 AM:  Securitize
  -tized -tiz·ing : to convert (assets) into securities typically by transferring them (as by sale) to a special trust, partnership, or corporation that issues them as securities with a resulting ...

• Nov 3, 2021 7:00 AM:  Insecure
  : having a good faith belief that the prospect of receiving payment or performance from a party with whom one has contracted is impaired in·se·cu·ri·ty n

• Nov 2, 2021 7:00 AM:  Romanist
  : a specialist in the law of ancient Rome

• Nov 1, 2021 7:00 AM:  Cash Out
  1 : to prematurely redeem the securities of (a holder) often as part of a merger [the merging company will cash out the minority shareholders] 2 a : to accept payment for (a security) in full often ...

• Nov 1, 2021 12:44 AM:  Impracticability
  1 : the state of being impracticable 2 : a doctrine in contract law: relief from obligations under a contract may be granted when performance has been rendered excessively difficult, expensive, or ...

• Oct 31, 2021 7:00 AM:  Unliquidated
  : not liquidated ;esp : not calculated or established as a specific amount [an claim]

• Oct 30, 2021 7:00 AM:  Redress
  1 a : relief from distress b : a means of obtaining a remedy 2 : compensation (as damages) for wrong or loss re·dress [ri-dres] vt

• Oct 29, 2021 7:00 AM:  Negotiorum Gestio
  [Late Latin, from Latin, management of business] in the civil law of Louisiana : the management of or interference with the business or affairs of another without authority

• Oct 28, 2021 7:00 AM:  Divestiture
  1 : the sale or transfer of title to a property (as an operating division) under court order (as in bankruptcy) 2 : the sale of an asset (as a business division) that is unprofitable, does not ...

• Oct 27, 2021 7:00 AM:  Intoxication
  1 : the state or condition of being intoxicated 2 : a defense based on inability to form the requisite specific intent to commit a crime due to intoxication

• Oct 26, 2021 7:00 AM:  Interdict
  1 : something that prohibits 2 : one that has been interdicted compare ward

• Oct 25, 2021 7:00 AM:  Pleadings
  in a civil case, the written statements of the parties stating their positions about the case.

• Oct 24, 2021 7:00 AM:  Moratorium
  pl: -riums or: -ria [New Latin, from Late Latin, neuter of moratorius dilatory, from morari to delay, from mora delay] 1 a : an authorized period of delay in the performance of an obligation (as the ...

• Oct 23, 2021 7:00 AM:  Willable
  : capable of being willed

• Oct 22, 2021 7:00 AM:  False Advertising
  : the crime or tort of publishing, broadcasting, or otherwise publicly distributing an advertisement that contains an untrue, misleading, or deceptive representation or statement which was made ...

• Oct 21, 2021 7:00 AM:  Article I Court
  : legislative court

• Oct 20, 2021 7:00 AM:  Secret Testament
  : mystic will at will

• Oct 19, 2021 7:00 AM:  Desertion
  : the forsaking of a person, post, or relationship: as a : permanent withdrawal from living with one's spouse without the spouse's consent and without cause or justification NOTE: Desertion is a ...

• Oct 18, 2021 7:00 AM:  Maturity
  : termination of the period that a note or other obligation has to run : state or condition of having become due

• Oct 18, 2021 12:06 AM:  Den
  denied

• Oct 17, 2021 7:00 AM:  Champertous
  : of, relating to, or being a champerty [a agreement]

• Oct 16, 2021 7:00 AM:  Imperfect Self-Defense
  : a defense based on self-defense that does not shield the defendant from all liability but reduces the liability esp. because the defendant actually but unreasonably believed that he or she was in ...