Immunity
An exemption that a person (individual or corporate) enjoys from the normal operation of the law such as a legal duty or liability, either criminal or civil. Read the full definition of Immunity on Duhaime.org
Immovable
Land and fixtures thereto, civil law term. Read the full definition of Immovable on Duhaime.org
Impaired
A deterioration of an individual's judgment and decrease in his or her's physical ability. Used primarily in criminal law; driving under the influence of alcohol or disability law in regards to a person's physical or mental impairment. Read the full definition of Impaired on Duhaime.org
Implied Trust
A trust that is imposed by law onto certain situations either by presuming an intention of the participants to create a trust, or simply because of the facts at hand. Read the full definition of Implied Trust on Duhaime.org
In Camera
A closed and private session of Court or some other deliberating body. Read the full definition of In Camera on Duhaime.org
Incest
The crime of sexual contact with a blood relative usually including a parent, child, sibling, grandparent or grandchild. Read the full definition of Incest on Duhaime.org
Inchmaree Clause
A standard clause in maritime insurance contracts covering risk of events not directly linked to perils at sea such as, but not necessarily limited to, loading accidents. Read the full definition of Inchmaree Clause on Duhaime.org
Incorporeal
Legal rights which are intangible such as copyrights or patents. Read the full definition of Incorporeal on Duhaime.org
Incorporeal Hereditament
An intangible right which is attached to property and which is inheritable. Read the full definition of Incorporeal Hereditament on Duhaime.org
Indefeasible
A right or title in property that cannot be made void, defeated or canceled by any past event, error or omission in the title. Read the full definition of Indefeasible on Duhaime.org
Indemnity
Contract with a third-party to perform another's obligations if called upon to do so by the third-party, whether the other has defaulted or not. Read the full definition of Indemnity on Duhaime.org
Indian
Nomenclature selected by Canada and USA to refer to and define their aboriginal or indigenous people. Read the full definition of Indian on Duhaime.org
Indictable Offence
An offence which the government can opt to cause trial by a more formal process than by summary process. Read the full definition of Indictable Offence on Duhaime.org
Indictment
The formal document by which the state sets out the claim that a person has committed a crime. It is on the basis of an indictment that an accused person must stand trial. Read the full definition of Indictment on Duhaime.org
Indigenous
Native to a particular territory. Read the full definition of Indigenous on Duhaime.org
Indigent
A poor person; not penniless but in need and who has no financial support from any other. Read the full definition of Indigent on Duhaime.org
Indirect Tax
The passing on of a tax or duty by the person who first pays it, through subsequent transactions. Read the full definition of Indirect Tax on Duhaime.org
Industrial Design
A new product or packaging design, or some such ornamental feature, and eligible for intellectual property law exclusive-use protection. Read the full definition of Industrial Design on Duhaime.org
Infanticide
Murder of an infant soon after its birth. Read the full definition of Infanticide on Duhaime.org
Injunction
A court order that prohibits a party from doing something (restrictive injunction) or compels them to do something (mandatory injunction). Read the full definition of Injunction on Duhaime.org
In Limine
Latin: at the beginning or on the threshold. Read the full definition of In Limine on Duhaime.org
In Loco Parentis
A person who, though not the natural parent, has acted as a parent to a child and may thus be liable to legal obligations as if he/she were a natural parent. Read the full definition of In Loco Parentis on Duhaime.org
Innocent Passage
A term of international maritime law referring to a ship's right to enter and pass through a coastal state's territorial waters so long as it is not prejudicial to the peace, good order or security of the coastal state. Read the full definition of Innocent Passage on Duhaime.org
In pari delicto
Latin: both parties are equally at fault. Read the full definition of In pari delicto on Duhaime.org
In Personam
Regarding a person; a right, action, judgment or entitlement that is attached to a specific person(s). Read the full definition of In Personam on Duhaime.org
In Rem
Regarding a thing; proprietary in nature; a right or judgment related to the use or ownership of an item of property. Read the full definition of In Rem on Duhaime.org
Insanity
Disorder which impairs the human mind and prevents distinguishing between actions that are right or wrong. Read the full definition of Insanity on Duhaime.org
Inscrutable Fault
A judicial finding that a fault has occurred but the court is unable to locate the source, to pinpoint a tort-feasor. Read the full definition of Inscrutable Fault on Duhaime.org
Insider Trading
Participation by corporate officers, directors or employees in the trade of a stock based on confidential or privileged corporate information, knowing that information to be confidential, and seeking thereby to acquire profits or avoid losses on the stock market. Read the full definition of Insider Trading on Duhaime.org
Insolence
Insulting a supervisor at the workplace or during the tenure of an employment contract. Read the full definition of Insolence on Duhaime.org
Insolvent
A person not able to pay his or her debts as they become due. Read the full definition of Insolvent on Duhaime.org
Insubordination
Willful failure to obey a supervisor's lawful orders. Read the full definition of Insubordination on Duhaime.org
Insurance
Where a persons agrees, for consideration, to pay a certain amount on the occurrence of a specified event. Read the full definition of Insurance on Duhaime.org
Intellectual Property
As a type of property, intellectual property has that unique characteristic of being ethereal; of the mind, intangible, with no corporeal existence; hence, 'intellectual property'. Read the full definition of Intellectual Property on Duhaime.org
Intentional Tort
Torts actionable upon evidence of an intent to cause harm on another, such as assault, trespass, false imprisonment, private nuisance, defamation or invasion of privacy. Read the full definition of Intentional Tort on Duhaime.org
Inter Alia
Latin: 'among other things', 'for example' or 'including'. Read the full definition of Inter Alia on Duhaime.org
Interim Order
A temporary court order; intended to be of limited duration, usually just until the court has had an opportunity of hearing the full case and make a final order. Read the full definition of Interim Order on Duhaime.org
Interlineation
An apition of something to a document after it has been signed. Such apitions are ignored unless they are initialed by the signatories and, if applicable, witnesses (eg. wills). Read the full definition of Interlineation on Duhaime.org
Interlocutory
Proceedings taken during the course of, and incidental to a trial. Read the full definition of Interlocutory on Duhaime.org
Interlocutory Injunction
A temporary injunction; which lasts only until the end of the trial during which the injunction was sought. Read the full definition of Interlocutory Injunction on Duhaime.org
Interloper
A person who, without legal right, runs a business (eg. without mandatory licenses), or who wrongfully interferes or intercepts another's business. Read the full definition of Interloper on Duhaime.org
International Commercial Arbitration
A commercial dispute subject to arbitration and in which a significant international elements exists such as, for example, the head offices of the disputants are different countries or the performance of the underlying contract is in a foreign state. Read the full definition of International Commercial Arbitration on Duhaime.org
International Convention on Salvage, 1989
An international treaty which standardizes, for signatories, the rules related to salvage and the compensation thereof. Read the full definition of International Convention on Salvage, 1989 on Duhaime.org
International Law
A combination of treaties and customs which regulates the conduct of states amongst themselves, and persons who trade or have legal relationships which involve the jurisdiction of more than one state. Read the full definition of International Law on Duhaime.org
Internet
A global computer network through which the almost-instant delivery of data or files occurs between connected computers. Read the full definition of Internet on Duhaime.org
Inter partes
Latin: between parties. Read the full definition of Inter partes on Duhaime.org
Inter se
Inter se - as between or amongst themselves. As between the parties. Read the full definition of Inter se on Duhaime.org
Inter Vivos
Latin: from one living person to another living person. Read the full definition of Inter Vivos on Duhaime.org
Intestate
Dying without a will. Read the full definition of Intestate on Duhaime.org
Inure
To take effect, to result; to come into operation. Read the full definition of Inure on Duhaime.org
Invitation to Treat
An invitation to another person to make an offer to contract. Read the full definition of Invitation to Treat on Duhaime.org
Invitee
A person invited, implicitly or explicitly, upon the real property of another. Read the full definition of Invitee on Duhaime.org
Invitor
Relevant to occupiers' liability; a person who, implicitly or explicitly, invites another to a place. Read the full definition of Invitor on Duhaime.org
IOU
Acronym for I owe you; a written acknowledgment of a debt. Read the full definition of IOU on Duhaime.org
Islamic Law
The law according to the Muslim faith and as interpreted from the Koran. Read the full definition of Islamic Law on Duhaime.org