Abbacinare: A barbaric form of corporal punishment meted out in the middle ages where persons would be permanently blinded by the pressing of hot irons to the open eyes. See the complete Legal Definition of Abbacinare

Abduction: To take someone away from a place without that person's consent, or by fraud. See the complete Legal Definition of Abduction

Abet: Encouraging or inciting another to do a certain thing, such as a crime. See the complete Legal Definition of Abet

Ab Initio: Latin: from the start; from the beginning. See the complete Legal Definition of Ab Initio

Acceptance: The final and unequivocal expression of assent to another's offer to contract. See the complete Legal Definition of Acceptance

Acceleration Clause: A clause in a contract that states that if a payment is missed, or some other default occurs (such as the debtor becoming insolvent), then the contract is fully due immediately. See the complete Legal Definition of Acceleration Clause

Accord and Satisfaction: The act of one party, having complied with its contractual obligation, accepting some type of compensation from the other party (usually money and of a lesser value) in lieu of enforcing the contract and holding the other party to their original obligation. See the complete Legal Definition of Accord and Satisfaction

Accretion: The addition to land by the action of water. See the complete Legal Definition of Accretion

Acquiescence: Action or inaction which binds a person legally even though it was not intended as such. See the complete Legal Definition of Acquiescence

Act: A bill which has passed through the various legislative steps required for it and which has become law. See the complete Legal Definition of Act

Act of God: An event which is caused solely by the effect of nature or natural causes and without any interference by humans whatsoever. See the complete Legal Definition of Act of God

Ad Colligendum Bona: A person appointed by Court order and for the limited and sole purpose of collecting, inventorizing and preserving the assets of the deceased until another administrator can be found or appointed. See the complete Legal Definition of Ad Colligendum Bona

Ad Damnum: Latin: refers to the parts or sections of a Court application that speaks to the damages that were allegedly suffered and claimed by the plaintiff. See the complete Legal Definition of Ad Damnum

Addendum: An attachment to a written document. See the complete Legal Definition of Addendum

Ademption: When property identified in a will cannot be given to the beneficiary because it no longer belonged to the deceased at the time of death. See the complete Legal Definition of Ademption

Adhesion Contract: A fine-print consumer form contract which is generally given to consumers at point-of-sale, with no opportunity for negotiation as to it's terms, and which, typically, sets out the terms and conditions of the sale to advantage the seller. See the complete Legal Definition of Adhesion Contract

Ad Hoc: Latin: for this purpose; for a specific purpose. See the complete Legal Definition of Ad Hoc

Ad Infinitum: Latin: forever; without limit; indefinitely. See the complete Legal Definition of Ad Infinitum

Administrative Law: That body of law which applies for hearings before quasi-judicial or quasi-judicial organizations such as administrative tribunals, or the underlying regulatory agency. See the complete Legal Definition of Administrative Law

Administrative Tribunal: Hybrid adjudicating authorities which render judicial decisions. See the complete Legal Definition of Administrative Tribunal

Administrator: A person who manages (administers) the assets of another, such as an estate administrator or the administrator of an insurance plan. See the complete Legal Definition of Administrator

ADR: Abbreviation for alternative dispute resolution. See the complete Legal Definition of ADR

Adultery: Voluntary sexual intercourse between a married person and another person who is not their married spouse. See the complete Legal Definition of Adultery

Adverse Possession: The possession of land, without legal title, for a period of time sufficient to become recognized as legal owner. See the complete Legal Definition of Adverse Possession

Affidavit: A statement which before being signed, the person signing takes an oath that the contents are, to the best of their knowledge, true. See the complete Legal Definition of Affidavit

Agent: A person who has received the power to act on behalf of another, binding that other person as if he or she were themselves making the decisions. See the complete Legal Definition of Agent

Aggravated Damages: Damages awarded by a court to reflect the exceptional harm done to a plaintiff of a tort action. See the complete Legal Definition of Aggravated Damages

Alimony: An amount given to one spouse to another while they are separated. See the complete Legal Definition of Alimony

Alliance: A military treaty between two or more states, providing for a mutually-planned offensive, or for assistance in the case of attack on any member. See the complete Legal Definition of Alliance

Alienate: To sell or give completely and without reserve; to transfer title to somebody else. See the complete Legal Definition of Alienate

Allodial: Land ownership that is unfettered, outright and absolute. See the complete Legal Definition of Allodial

Allonge: A piece of paper which has been attached to a contract, a check or any promissory note, on which to add signatures because there is not enough room on the main document. See the complete Legal Definition of Allonge

Alternative Dispute Resolution: Also known as 'ADR'; methods by which legal conflicts and disputes are resolved privately and other than through litigation in the public courts, usually through one of two forms: mediation or arbitration. See the complete Legal Definition of Alternative Dispute Resolution

Amalgamation: The merging of two things together to form one such as the amalgamation of different companies to form a single company. See the complete Legal Definition of Amalgamation

Ambassador: A citizen that has been officially asked by their country to live in another country in order to legally represent it. See the complete Legal Definition of Ambassador

Ambulatory: Something which is not cast in stone; which can be changed or revoked, such as a will. See the complete Legal Definition of Ambulatory

Amend: To change, to revise; to formally change a statement on the record or the wording of a written document, such as a statute. See the complete Legal Definition of Amend

Amicus Curiae: Latin: friend of the court. See the complete Legal Definition of Amicus Curiae

Animus Contrahendi: Latin: an intention to contract. See the complete Legal Definition of Animus Contrahendi

Annulment: To make void forever; to cancel an event or judicial proceeding both retroactively and for the future so that in the eyes of the law, it never occurred. See the complete Legal Definition of Annulment

Antedate: To date back; retroactively. See the complete Legal Definition of Antedate

Antenuptial: An event or document which pre-dates a marriage. See the complete Legal Definition of Antenuptial

Anti-trust: Prohibited trade, marketplace or merchant activities as defined in a relevant anti-trust or such other restraint of trade statute. See the complete Legal Definition of Anti-trust

Appeal: To ask a more senior court or person to review a decision of a subordinate court or person. See the complete Legal Definition of Appeal

Appearance: The act of showing up in court as either plaintiff, defendant, accused or any other party to a civil or criminal suit. See the complete Legal Definition of Appearance

Apportionment: The division and distribution of something into proportionate parts; to each according to their share. See the complete Legal Definition of Apportionment

Appurtenance: Something that, although detached, stands as part of another thing. See the complete Legal Definition of Appurtenance

Arbitration: An agreement to submit a dispute for a hearing and binding decision by a third-party, an arbitrator(s), who is neither a judge or a Court See the complete Legal Definition of Arbitration

Arraignment: In USA criminal law, the formal appearance of an accused person to hear, and to receive a copy of, the charge against him or her, in the presence of a judge, and to then enter a plea of guilty or not guilty. See the complete Legal Definition of Arraignment

Arrears: A debt that is not paid on the due date adds up and accumulates in arrears. See the complete Legal Definition of Arrears

Arson: The intentional setting of a fire to a building. See the complete Legal Definition of Arson

Assault: The touching of another person with an intent to harm, without that person's consent. See the complete Legal Definition of Assault

Assign: To sell, give or otherwise transfer some legal right or responsibility to another. See the complete Legal Definition of Assign

Attorn or Attornment: To consent, implicitly or explicitly, to a transfer of a right. See the complete Legal Definition of Attorn or Attornment

Attorney: An alternate word for lawyers or barrister and solicitor, used mostly in the USA. See the complete Legal Definition of Attorney

Audi Alteram Partem: Latin; literally 'hear the other side'. See the complete Legal Definition of Audi Alteram Partem

Autrefois Acquit: Previously acquitted; an accused cannot be tried for a crime because the record shows he has already been subjected to trial for the same conduct and was acquitted. See the complete Legal Definition of Autrefois Acquit

A Vinculo Matrimonii: Latin: of marriage. See the complete Legal Definition of A Vinculo Matrimonii

Avunculus: Latin: a mother's brother. See the complete Legal Definition of Avunculus

Authentic Act: Civil law: a contract or other legal document which has been properly prepared or authenticated by a court officer, such as a notary, and thereafter given enhanced evidentiary status of its authenticity. See the complete Legal Definition of Authentic Act

And/Or: Any combination of two options; one, the other (either), or both. See the complete Legal Definition of And/Or

Actus Reus: Latin: a prohibited act. See the complete Legal Definition of Actus Reus

Actus Reus Non Facit Reum Nisi Mens Sit Rea: Latin: conviction of a crime requires proof of a criminal act and intent. See the complete Legal Definition of Actus Reus Non Facit Reum Nisi Mens Sit Rea

Anarchy: Absence of law. See the complete Legal Definition of Anarchy

Abatement: A reduction in some amount that is owed, usually granted by the person to whom the debt is owed. In the law of torts, the summary removal of a nuisance. See the complete Legal Definition of Abatement

Assumpsit: Medieval era action for breach of contract. See the complete Legal Definition of Assumpsit

Absolute Privilege: An absolute defence to an otherwise defamatory statement because of the venue or context which the statement was made. See the complete Legal Definition of Absolute Privilege

Absolute: Final, perfected, complete and unconditional. See the complete Legal Definition of Absolute

Adoption: To take as one's own. See the complete Legal Definition of Adoption

Acquittal: A decision by a judge that a person accused of a crime is not guilty. See the complete Legal Definition of Acquittal

Adverse Witness: The right of a party calling a witness to show that the witness made a prior inconsistent statement. See the complete Legal Definition of Adverse Witness

Age of Majority: An age generally specified by statute, at which time, upon an individual is given the full gamut of legal rights and responsibilities generally available to an adult of sound mind. See the complete Legal Definition of Age of Majority

Affreightment: A transportation contract whereby a transportation company, shipowner or operator agrees to carry goods in return for a sum of money, the sum being paid called freight. See the complete Legal Definition of Affreightment

Admiralty: Law or judicial body having to do with, or jurisdiction over, shipping and use of the sea. See the complete Legal Definition of Admiralty

Affray: A fight between two or more persons in a public place so as to cause terror to the public. See the complete Legal Definition of Affray

Alien: A citizen of a state in transit, working, residing or otherwise within the territory of another state. See the complete Legal Definition of Alien

Armchair Rule: A rule of interpretation that a judge, called upon to interpret an otherwise unclear legal document, shall take into account the circumstances in which the document was created. See the complete Legal Definition of Armchair Rule

Affirmative Action: A reverse discrimination law, program or activity that has as its object the amelioration of conditions of individuals who are socially or economically disadvantaged. See the complete Legal Definition of Affirmative Action

Association: A form of organizational structure which is institutionally operated on a cost recovery basis, for which incorporation is extended by the government or, in some jurisdictions, as an unincorporated association of individuals, for a set of purposes set out in statute such as religious, scientific, social, literary, educational, recreational or benevolent purposes, and generally operated as nearly as possible at cost. See the complete Legal Definition of Association

Ancillary Relief: Secondary relief claimed by a litigant which is subordinate or subservient to a principal claim. See the complete Legal Definition of Ancillary Relief

Apostacy: The ancient criminal offence of not being Christian or atheism, or of denying the doctrines of a state religion. See the complete Legal Definition of Apostacy

Adjourn: The postponement, suspension and interruption of an ongoing hearing or meeting to resume at some future date; to break off for later resumption. See the complete Legal Definition of Adjourn

Agenda: A term of parliamentary law and procedure referring to a program, written notice and order of business at an upcoming meeting. See the complete Legal Definition of Agenda

Automatism: An act done by a person who is not conscious of what he is doing. See the complete Legal Definition of Automatism

Affiant: A person that is sworn to an affidavit; who gives evidence by way of an affidavit. See the complete Legal Definition of Affiant

Ad Litem: Latin: for the suit. See the complete Legal Definition of Ad Litem

Access: A non-custodian parent's bundle of rights or times and days during which he/she has exclusive time with the child of the separated parents. See the complete Legal Definition of Access

Aboriginal: Pertaining to things or land or person or members of a race, which are indigenous to, or first occupied a specified territory. See the complete Legal Definition of Aboriginal

Adjective Law: Procedural law. See the complete Legal Definition of Adjective Law

Alternative Measures: Canada; a much lighter disposition of a criminal charge regarding an adult accused who would be prepared to plead guilty and which does not result in a criminal record or incarceration but instead usually results in a mild penalty such as community service, an apology to the victim or counseling. See the complete Legal Definition of Alternative Measures

Absolute Discharge: A sentence of a person guilty of a crime in which the accused is deemed to have not been convicted; no criminal record issues as regards the offense for which an absolute discharge is granted. See the complete Legal Definition of Absolute Discharge

Actual Total Loss: Property that is completely destroyed, or lost and irretrievable; a term of insurance and maritime law. See the complete Legal Definition of Actual Total Loss

Athens Passenger Convention: Formally, the Athens Convention relating to the Carriage of Passengers and their Luggage by Sea (PAL), 1974, an international treaty which establishes a regime of liability for damage suffered by passengers carried on a seagoing vessel. See the complete Legal Definition of Athens Passenger Convention

Appraisal: The informed and objective inspection and estimation of a thing's worth. See the complete Legal Definition of Appraisal

Appraisement: The inspection and appraisal or valuation of property, especially vessels, such as by a court-appointed surveyor, before its judicial sale, thus allowing the court to make an informed decision as to whether the judicial sale price is fair to the parties, particularly where there are competing claims for the proceeds of sale. See the complete Legal Definition of Appraisement

Armed Robbery: Robbery committed while the person accused is armed with a dangerous weapon. See the complete Legal Definition of Armed Robbery

Arrest: The detainment or restraint of a person or thing for the purposes of determining legal rights as regards a thing, or suspicion of criminal activity as regards a person. See the complete Legal Definition of Arrest

Accounts: The written, detailed or summary, record of a person's managament or administration of an estate or of a particular matter. See the complete Legal Definition of Accounts

Animal: A creature or living thing, other than human, being able to move of its own accord. See the complete Legal Definition of Animal

Assisted Suicide: An attempt to take one's own life with the intentional assistance of another person. See the complete Legal Definition of Assisted Suicide

Arbuckle Rights: The right of an accused to be sentenced by the judge who took his guilty plea. See the complete Legal Definition of Arbuckle Rights

Award: The decision of an arbitrator. See the complete Legal Definition of Award

Arbitration Act: A statute that sets out default terms for the conduct of arbitration between parties to a dispute. See the complete Legal Definition of Arbitration Act

Arbitration Agreement: A contract between two or more parties to refer a dispute to arbitration. See the complete Legal Definition of Arbitration Agreement

Arbitration Clause: A clause in a contract which requires a party to refer a dispute to arbitration. See the complete Legal Definition of Arbitration Clause

Arbiter: An alternate term for arbitrator; preferred in some jurisdictions such as Scotland. See the complete Legal Definition of Arbiter

Arbitrator: The adjudicating and presiding officer of a dispute submitted to arbitration. See the complete Legal Definition of Arbitrator

Arbitration Rules: The rules of procedure that govern a particular arbitration. See the complete Legal Definition of Arbitration Rules

Antichresis: Civil law: the pledge of real property as security for a debt. See the complete Legal Definition of Antichresis

Ab Absurdo: Latin: an evidentiary suggestion or statutory interpretation that is, or leads to, an absurdity. See the complete Legal Definition of Ab Absurdo

Air of Reality Test: A pre-requisite test against which a proposed defence to a criminal charge is weighed; that any proposed defence must at least have an evidential foundation. See the complete Legal Definition of Air of Reality Test

Alibi: A defence to a criminal charge to the effect that the accused was elsewhere than at the scene of the alleged crime. See the complete Legal Definition of Alibi

Aberemurder: A spontaneous and gratuitous murder. See the complete Legal Definition of Aberemurder

Adoption of Convenience: An adoption of a child not for the sake of the child but to the convenience, usually financial, of the adopting parent(s). See the complete Legal Definition of Adoption of Convenience

Ancient Lights: An opening through which light has flowed uninterrupted for twenty years and which can, in some circumstances, support a claim for nuisance if blocked. See the complete Legal Definition of Ancient Lights

Averment: Pleadings; official allegations of fact made by a party to a lawsuit. See the complete Legal Definition of Averment

Adult: An individual who has reached, or is over the age of majority. See the complete Legal Definition of Adult

Adult Child: A son or daughter who has reached the age of majority. See the complete Legal Definition of Adult Child

Aircraft: An object used for flight through the air. See the complete Legal Definition of Aircraft

Air Law: The law of aircraft, their passengers and cargo, and their transit above states and other governed territory. See the complete Legal Definition of Air Law

Aleatory Contract: Civil law: a contract which depends on an uncertain event. See the complete Legal Definition of Aleatory Contract

Alluvion: The gradual increase of land by the action of water such as by tides or currents. See the complete Legal Definition of Alluvion

Avulsion: The removal of land from one real property and its deposit on the property of another, by the sudden action of nature (eg. water or volcano). See the complete Legal Definition of Avulsion

Agreement in Principle: An agreement as to the terms of some future contract. See the complete Legal Definition of Agreement in Principle

Adult Interdependent Partner: A statutory term for individuals within a common-law relationship. See the complete Legal Definition of Adult Interdependent Partner

Asset: A thing of value. See the complete Legal Definition of Asset

As Is: That a product is sold in the condition in which it then exists. See the complete Legal Definition of As Is

Ambiguity: Where a word or phrase is capable of two or more meanings and which, in the context, raises doubt or uncertainty as to which is intended. See the complete Legal Definition of Ambiguity

Anton Piller Order: A court order allowing a party to litigation to enter the premises of another to search for and, if found, remove specified documents or items. See the complete Legal Definition of Anton Piller Order

Absolute Liability: Offences in which it is not open to a person to avoid liability on the ground that she or he acted under a reasonable mistake of fact which, if the facts had been as the accused believed them to be, would have made his act innocent. See the complete Legal Definition of Absolute Liability

Adminiculum: Latin: some evidence tendered to support something else See the complete Legal Definition of Adminiculum

Amnesty: A general pardon extended by the government to those persons facing prosecution for, or convicted of specified criminal offences. See the complete Legal Definition of Amnesty

Alia Enormia: Latin: The catch-all phrase in trespass pleadings to refer to all such other harms and damages that may have been caused by the alleged trespasser other than those specified. See the complete Legal Definition of Alia Enormia

Agnatio: Latin: members of a group having a common male ancestor. See the complete Legal Definition of Agnatio

Action: A formal demand to a court of law and of justice to resolve a dispute. See the complete Legal Definition of Action

Anticipatory Breach: When a party to a contract receives an indication from the other party that they intend on not performing their contractual obligations. See the complete Legal Definition of Anticipatory Breach

Animus Furandi: Latin: an intent to do wrong. See the complete Legal Definition of Animus Furandi

Arm's Length: A transaction or relationship where there is an absence of control the one over the other. See the complete Legal Definition of Arm's Length

Automatic Stay: In bankruptcy law; a stay of collection and other similar debt enforcement proceedings against a bankrupt. See the complete Legal Definition of Automatic Stay

Auditor: A private person who examine, inspects or verifies the accounts of another. See the complete Legal Definition of Auditor

Adult Guardianship: The body of law as related to the investigation into the ability of an adult to manage his or her person or affairs, and the resultant guardianship. See the complete Legal Definition of Adult Guardianship

Abandonment: The leaving behind of property; an indifference as to the fate of a chatttel. See the complete Legal Definition of Abandonment

Administration of Justice: The personnel, activity and structure of the justice system - courts and police - in the detection, investigation, apprehension, interviewing and trial of persons suspected of crime. See the complete Legal Definition of Administration of Justice

Asylum: A secure place of refuge. See the complete Legal Definition of Asylum

Asylum Shopping: The practise by an individual given asylum by one state as a refugee, to then use that status to attempt to migrate to another country. See the complete Legal Definition of Asylum Shopping

Accident: An unlooked for mishap or occurrence. See the complete Legal Definition of Accident

Accardi Doctrine: An agency must abide by its own regulations. See the complete Legal Definition of Accardi Doctrine

Aggression: Unjustified use of force against the territorial integrity of another state. See the complete Legal Definition of Aggression

Antisocial Personality Disorder: A pervasive pattern of disregard for and violation of the rights of others. See the complete Legal Definition of Antisocial Personality Disorder

Anchorage: The temporary imobolization of a vessel near land through the use of some fixing of the boat to the land under the water bed. See the complete Legal Definition of Anchorage

Akathisia: Psychomotor restlessness. See the complete Legal Definition of Akathisia