Easement
A legal right to the access over or use of another's land or waterway. Read the full definition of Easement on Duhaime.org
Ecclesiastical law
Synonymous to canon law. Read the full definition of Ecclesiastical law on Duhaime.org
E-Commerce
The buying and sellling of goods and services on the internet. Read the full definition of E-Commerce on Duhaime.org
Eggshell Skull Doctrine
A tort-feasor or a wrongdoer takes his victim as he finds him. Read the full definition of Eggshell Skull Doctrine on Duhaime.org
Eighth Amendment
US constitutional amendment that prohibits excessive bail (or) fines (and) cruel and unusual punishment.... Read the full definition of Eighth Amendment on Duhaime.org
Ejusdem or Eiusdem Generis
Of the same kind or nature. Read the full definition of Ejusdem or Eiusdem Generis on Duhaime.org
Emancipation
The act of freeing a person who was under the legal authority of another (such as a child before the age of majority) from that control (such as child reaching the age of majority). Read the full definition of Emancipation on Duhaime.org
Embargo
This is an act of international military aggression where an order is made prohibiting ships or goods from leaving a certain port, city or territory and may be enforced by military threat of destroying any vehicle that attempts to break it or by trade penalties. Read the full definition of Embargo on Duhaime.org
Embezzle
The illegal transfer of money or property that, although possessed legally by the embezzler, is diverted to the embezzler personally by his or her fraudulent action. Read the full definition of Embezzle on Duhaime.org
Embracery
Improper influence on a juror. Read the full definition of Embracery on Duhaime.org
Eminent domain
USA: The legal power to expropriate private land for the sake of public necessity. Read the full definition of Eminent domain on Duhaime.org
Emolument
A legal word which refers to all wages, benefits or other benefit received as compensation for holding some office or employment. Read the full definition of Emolument on Duhaime.org
Emphyteusis
Civil law: a long-term lease of land or buildings; 99 years or such similar long term, or even in perpetuity. Read the full definition of Emphyteusis on Duhaime.org
Employee
A person who has agreed by contract to perform specified services for another, the employer, in exchange for money. Read the full definition of Employee on Duhaime.org
Employment Standards
Entirely a creation of statute; minimum employee rights extended for work within the jurisdiction served by the relevant statute. Read the full definition of Employment Standards on Duhaime.org
Emptio or emtio
Latin for 'purchase' or the contract in which something is bought. Read the full definition of Emptio or emtio on Duhaime.org
Enactment
A law or a statute; a document which is published as an enforceable set of written rules is said to be enacted. Read the full definition of Enactment on Duhaime.org
Endorsement
Something written on the back of a document. An alternate spelling, in some English jurisdictions, is 'indorsement'. Read the full definition of Endorsement on Duhaime.org
Endowment
The transfer of money or property (usually as a gift) to a public organization for a specific purpose, such as medical research or scholarships. Read the full definition of Endowment on Duhaime.org
Enduring or Continuing Power of Attorney
A POA that continues even if and after a donor becomes incapacitated. Read the full definition of Enduring or Continuing Power of Attorney on Duhaime.org
Entrapment
The inducement, by law enforcement officers or their agents, of another person to commit a crime for the purposes of bringing charges for the commission of that artificially-provoked crime. Read the full definition of Entrapment on Duhaime.org
Equity
A branch of English law which developed hundreds of years ago when litigants would go to the King and complain of harsh or inflexible rules of common law which prevented justice from prevailing. Read the full definition of Equity on Duhaime.org
Escheat
Where property is returned to the government upon the death of the owner, because there is nobody to inherit the property Read the full definition of Escheat on Duhaime.org
Escrow
When the performance of something is outstanding and a third party holds onto money or a written document (such as shares or a deed) until a certain condition is met between the two contracting parties. Read the full definition of Escrow on Duhaime.org
Estate law
A term used by the law to decribe that part of the law which regulates wills, probate and other subjects related to the distribution of a deceased person's estate. Read the full definition of Estate law on Duhaime.org
Estoppel
A rule of law that when person A, by act or words, gives person B reason to believe a certain set of facts upon which person B takes action, person A cannot later, to his (or her) benefit, deny those facts or say that his (or her) earlier act was improper. Read the full definition of Estoppel on Duhaime.org
Euthanasia
The putting to death, by painless method, of a terminally-ill or severely debilitated person through the omission (intentionally withholding a life-saving medical procedure, also known as 'passive euthanasia') or commission of an act ('active euthanasia'). Read the full definition of Euthanasia on Duhaime.org
Eviction
Some permanent act by landivord, or by person or thing under his control, which deprives a tenant of enjoyment of the rented premises. Read the full definition of Eviction on Duhaime.org
Evidence
Proof of fact(s) presented at a judicial hearing such as a trial. Read the full definition of Evidence on Duhaime.org
Ex Aequo Et Bono
Latin: in justice and fairness. Read the full definition of Ex Aequo Et Bono on Duhaime.org
Examination for Discovery
An oral examination under oath. Read the full definition of Examination for Discovery on Duhaime.org
Examination In Chief
The questioning of your own witness under oath. Read the full definition of Examination In Chief on Duhaime.org
Exculpate
Something that excuses or justifies a wrong action. Read the full definition of Exculpate on Duhaime.org
Executive Branch
The executive branch is the administrative arm of government (and thus also called the 'administration' or the 'administrative branch of government'); the one with the most employees as it operates, implements and enforces all the laws created by the legislative branch, and as interpreted, from time to time, by the judiciary. Read the full definition of Executive Branch on Duhaime.org
Executor
A person specifically appointed by a testator to administer the will ensuring that final wishes are respected (i.e. that the will is properly executed). Read the full definition of Executor on Duhaime.org
Executor De Son Tort
A person who mepives with the estate of a deceased person. Read the full definition of Executor De Son Tort on Duhaime.org
Executor's Year
The year from date of death generally granted to the executor to collect and disburse the testator's assets. Read the full definition of Executor's Year on Duhaime.org
Exhibit
A document or object shown to the court as evidence in a trial. Read the full definition of Exhibit on Duhaime.org
Ex parte
Latin: for one party only. Read the full definition of Ex parte on Duhaime.org
Ex patriate
A person who has abandoned his or her country of origin and citizenship and has become a subject or citizen of another country. Read the full definition of Ex patriate on Duhaime.org
Ex post facto
Latin: after the fact. Read the full definition of Ex post facto on Duhaime.org
Expropriation
Canada: the forced sale of land to a public authority. Read the full definition of Expropriation on Duhaime.org
Express Trust
A trust which is clearly created by the settlor, usually in the form of a document (eg. a will), although they can be oral. Read the full definition of Express Trust on Duhaime.org
Expunge
To physically erase; to white or strike out. Read the full definition of Expunge on Duhaime.org
Ex Rel
An abbreviation of Ex Relatione; Latin for 'on the relation of.' Read the full definition of Ex Rel on Duhaime.org
Extortion
Forcing a person to give up property in a thing through the use of violence, fear or under pretense of authority. Read the full definition of Extortion on Duhaime.org
Extradition
The arrest and delivery of a fugitive wanted for a crime committed in another country, usually under the terms of a extradition treaty. Read the full definition of Extradition on Duhaime.org
Ex turpi causa non oritur actio
Latin: 'Of an illegal cause there can be no lawsuit.' Read the full definition of Ex turpi causa non oritur actio on Duhaime.org