Legal Dictionary

I A I B I C I D I E I F I G I H I I I I J I K I L I M I N I O I P I Q I R I S I T I U I V I W I X I Y I Z I

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Abstract of Title
a history of the title to a piece of property, with all conveyances, transfers, encumberances, and liens.

Accessory
a person who contributes to the commission of a crime in a minor way

Accident
an unforeseen event, even one due to the negligence of another.

Accomplice
a person who contributes to the commission or attempted commission of a crime in a major way so as to be held accountable for the same crime.

Accounting, Action for
a lawsuit brought by one business partner against another in order to see a formal accounting statement of the partnership.

Accusation
a criminal charge against a person or corporation

Accuse
to bring a formal criminal charge against a person or corporation.

Accused
the person who is charged with a criminal offense; the defendant.

Acquit
to set free from a criminal charge.

Action (at law)
a judicial proceeding brought by one person against another or a corporation to get compensation for a wrong or stop the other party from committing a wrong; to prosecute.

Actionable
Wrongful behavior that may provide reasons for a law suit.

Actus Reus
A "wrongful deed," "guilty act" or "deed of crime." All crimes have two elements: performing the act (actus reus), and the intent to commit the act (mens rea).

Affidavit
A written statement sworn to be true before an authorized officer such as a notary public.

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Appeal
Procedure where a party to a legal proceeding asks a higher court to reverse or modify a lower court's decision.

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Arbitration
Dispute resolution by a third party who has been chosen by opposing parties who agree to abide by the decision.

Arraignment
The initial appearance of the defendant before the court where charges are read.

Articles of Incorporation
The basic rules and laws governing the operation of a company.

Assets
Total resources or property of a person or business, such as cash, notes and accounts receivable, securities, inventories, goodwill, or real estate.

Attorney-Client Privilege
The right of a person and duty of his attorney to keep their communications confidential.

Audit
The official examination of financial accounts.

It is never safe to assume that the only priority of the other side is that they are “out to get you." The opposition has many pressures and priorities of which you are unaware. The continuing opportunity of interaction is necessary for the development of cooperation, but is not sufficient if the other side is never encouraged to participate.

Apparent authority
n. the appearance of being the agent of another (employer or principal) with the power to act for the principal. Since under the law of agency the employer (the principal) is liable for the acts of his employee (agent), if a person who is not an agent appears to an outsider (a customer) to have been given authority by the principal, then the principal is stuck for the acts of anyone he allows to appear to have authority.

Appeal
1) v. to ask a higher court to reverse the decision of a trial court after final judgment or other legal ruling. After the lower court judgment is entered into the record, the losing party (appellant) must file a notice of appeal, request transcripts or other records of the trial court (or agree with the other party on an "agreed-upon statement"), file briefs with the appeals court citing legal reasons for over-turning the ruling, and show how those reasons (usually other appeal decisions called "precedents") relate to the facts in the case.

Appear
v. for a party or an attorney to show up in court.
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Appellate court
n. a court of appeals which hears appeals from lower court decisions. The term is often used in legal briefs to describe a court of appeals.

Appraise
v. to professionally evaluate the value of property includ- ing real estate, jewelry, antique furniture, securities, or in certain cases the loss of value (or cost of replacement) due to damage.

Appraiser
n. a professional who makes appraisals of the value of property. Some specialize in real property, and others in other types of assets from rugs to rings..

Arrears
n. money not paid when due, usually the sum of a series of unpaid amounts, such as rent, installments on an account or promissory note, or monthly child support. Sometimes these are called "arrearages."

.Arrest
v. 1) to take or hold a suspected criminal with legal authority, as by a law enforcement officer. An arrest may be made legally based on a warrant issued by a court after receiving a sworn statement of probable cause to believe there has been a crime committed by this person, for an apparent crime committed in the presence of the arresting officer, or upon probable cause to believe a crime has been committed by that person

Assault
1) v. the threat or attempt to strike another, whether successful or not, provided the target is aware of the danger. The assaulter must be reasonably capable of carrying through the attack. In some states if the assault is with a deadly weapon (such as sniping with a rifle), the intended victim does not need to know of the peril.

Attestation
n. the act of witnessing a signature for the purpose of declaring that a document (like a will) was properly signed and declared by the signer to be his or her signature

Audit
n. an examination by a trained accountant of the financial records of a business or governmental entity, including noting improper or careless practices, recommendations for improvements, and a balancing of the books

Authorize
v. to officially empower someone to act.
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Award
1) n. the decision of an arbitrator or commissioner (or any non-judicial arbiter) of a controversy. 2) v. to give a judgment of money to a party to a lawsuit, arbitration, or administrative claim.

 

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