A fortiori: Latin: with all the more force. | Legal Definition of A fortiori

A Vinculo Matrimonii: Latin: of marriage. | Legal Definition of A Vinculo Matrimonii

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

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

Abandon: A giving up, a total desertion, an absolute relinquishment. | Legal Definition of Abandon

Abandonment: The leaving behind of property; an indifference as to the fate of a chattel. | Legal Definition of Abandonment

Abate: To put an end to, to nullify or to become void. | Legal Definition of Abate

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. | Legal Definition of Abatement

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. | Legal Definition of Abbacinare

ABC Rule: An equitable exception to the general rule that attorney fees are not awarded, and which allows an award of attorney fees as consequential damages. | Legal Definition of ABC Rule

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

Aberemurder: A spontaneous and gratuitous murder. | Legal Definition of Aberemurder

Aberratio Ictus: Latin: the accidental harm to a person; e.g. perpetrator aims at X but by chance or lack of skill hits Y. | Legal Definition of Aberratio Ictus

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

Abode: A place or places with which a person has established significant contacts through continuous or extended habitation. | Legal Definition of Abode

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

Aboriginal Fishing Rights: (Canada) The right of Aboriginals to fish for food, to exchange fish for money or other goods, and to fish commercially. | Legal Definition of Aboriginal Fishing Rights

Aboriginal Title: Indians' exclusive right to use and occupy lands they have inhabited from time immemorial, but that have subsequently become discovered by European settlers. | Legal Definition of Aboriginal Title

Abortion: The expulsion of a fetus from the uterus before it is viable. | Legal Definition of Abortion

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

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. | Legal Definition of Absolute Discharge

Absolute Immunity: Shields public officials from being sued for official acts without regard to motive. | Legal Definition of Absolute Immunity

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. | Legal Definition of Absolute Liability

Absolute Nuisance: Intentional conduct or an abnormally dangerous condition that cannot be maintained without injury to property, no matter what precautions are taken. | Legal Definition of Absolute Nuisance

Absolute Priority Rule: The highest rank amongst creditors; he who gets paid in full before any other creditor. | Legal Definition of Absolute Priority Rule

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

Abstract Instruction: An instruction given to a jury which though correct in law, is irrelevant. | Legal Definition of Abstract Instruction

Abstract of Title: A statement of the conveyances and charges appearing of record and affecting the title to real property. | Legal Definition of Abstract of Title

Abuse: Physical or nonphysical misuse or maltreatment or use or treatment so as to injure, hurt, or damage. | Legal Definition of Abuse

Abuse of Discretion: A decision of a judicial body based on an erroneous finding of fact or conclusion of law, or an improper application of law to fact. | Legal Definition of Abuse of Discretion

Abuse of Process: The use of legal process in an improper or unauthorized manner. | Legal Definition of Abuse of Process

Accardi Doctrine: An agency must abide by its own regulations. | Legal Definition of Accardi Doctrine

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. | Legal Definition of Acceleration Clause

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

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. | Legal Definition of Access

Accident: An unlooked for mishap or occurrence. | Legal Definition of Accident

Accomplice: Person(s) that aids, abets, advises, or encourages the commission of the crime. | Legal Definition of Accomplice

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. | Legal Definition of Accord and Satisfaction

Accounting: A detailed statement of the debits and credits between parties arising out of a contract or a fiduciary relation. | Legal Definition of Accounting

Accounts: The written, detailed or summary, record of a person's management or administration of an estate or of a particular matter. | Legal Definition of Accounts

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

Accusation: The formal criminal charge against a person which specifies the essential ingredients in regards to the alleged offence such as time and place and the relevant reference to the criminal law allegedly breached. | Legal Definition of Accusation

Accused: A person to whom a formal information containing an allegation of a criminal offence has been delivered, or a person arrested for a criminal offence. | Legal Definition of Accused

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

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

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

Actio Personalis Moritur Cum Persona: Latin: any right of action dies with the person. | Legal Definition of Actio Personalis Moritur Cum Persona

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

Active Euthanasia: The taking of active measures to cut short the life of a terminally ill patient. | Legal Definition of Active Euthanasia

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

Actuary: Professionals uniquely skilled in the application of mathematics to risk management, contingent events and opportunity. | Legal Definition of Actuary

Actus Dei Nemini Facit Injuriam: Latin: An act of God causes legal injury to no one. | Legal Definition of Actus Dei Nemini Facit Injuriam

Actus Reus: Latin: a prohibited act. | 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. | Legal Definition of Actus Reus Non Facit Reum Nisi Mens Sit Rea

Ad Colligendum Bona: Latin: for the collection of the goods of the deceased. | Legal Definition of Ad Colligendum Bona

Ad Damnum: Latin: to the damage. | Legal Definition of Ad Damnum

Ad Hoc: Latin: limited in time; to this point. | Legal Definition of Ad Hoc

Ad Infinitum: Latin: forever; without limit; indefinitely. | Legal Definition of Ad Infinitum

Ad Litem: Latin: for the suit. | Legal Definition of Ad Litem

Ad Proximum Antecedens Fiat Relatio Nisi Impediatur Sententia: Latin: relative words must ordinarily be referred to the last antecedent, the last antecedent being the last word which can be made an antecedent so as to give a meaning. | Legal Definition of Ad Proximum Antecedens Fiat Relatio Nisi Impediatur Sententia

Addendum: An attachment to a written document. | 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. | 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. | Legal Definition of Adhesion Contract

Adjective Law: Procedural law. | Legal Definition of Adjective Law

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

Adjudicative Fact: Basic, core facts that must be proven by a party. | Legal Definition of Adjudicative Fact

Adminiculum: Latin: some evidence tendered to support something else | Legal Definition of Adminiculum

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. | Legal Definition of Administration of Justice

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. | Legal Definition of Administrative Law

Administrative Tribunal: Hybrid adjudicating authorities which render judicial decisions. | 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. | Legal Definition of Administrator

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

Adoption: To take as one's own. | Legal Definition of Adoption

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). | Legal Definition of Adoption of Convenience

ADR: Abbreviation for alternative dispute resolution. | Legal Definition of ADR

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

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

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. | Legal Definition of Adult Guardianship

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

Adultery: Voluntary sexual intercourse between a married person and another person who is not their married spouse. | 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. | Legal Definition of Adverse Possession

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

Advocate: The Scottish law term for a barrister; one who argues cases for clients before the Court. | Legal Definition of Advocate

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

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

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. | Legal Definition of Affirmative Action

Affirmative Defense: A reply to a claim which alleges facts from which it results that, notwithstanding the truth of the allegations of the complaint, no cause of action exists. | Legal Definition of Affirmative Defense

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

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. | Legal Definition of Affreightment

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. | Legal Definition of Age of Majority

Agency: A fiduciary relationship between one person (a principal) and another (an agent) that the agent shall act on the principal's behalf. | Legal Definition of Agency

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

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. | Legal Definition of Agent

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

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

Agnatio: Latin: members of a group having a common male ancestor. | Legal Definition of Agnatio

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

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

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. | Legal Definition of Air of Reality Test

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

Akathisia: Psychomotor restlessness. | Legal Definition of Akathisia

al Qaeda: A terrorist organization, nominally Islamic, and originally based in Afghanistan. | Legal Definition of al Qaeda

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

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. | Legal Definition of Alia Enormia

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

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

Alienate: To sell or otherwise dispose of property. | Legal Definition of Alienate

Alieni juris: Latin: under the legal authority of another. | Legal Definition of Alieni juris

Alimony: An amount given to one spouse from another while they are separated. | Legal Definition of Alimony

Alley: A right of way to serve a limited neighborhood for local convenience and not for general passage. | Legal Definition of Alley

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. | Legal Definition of Alliance

Allision: A collision between a moving vessel and a stationary object. | Legal Definition of Allision

Allodial: Land ownership that is unfettered, outright and absolute. | 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. | Legal Definition of Allonge

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

Alopecia: Hair loss. | Legal Definition of Alopecia

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. | Legal Definition of Alternative Dispute Resolution

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. | Legal Definition of Alternative Measures

Alternative Medicine: Holistic health care; medical care that is outside of mainstream medical practice and not benefiting from a solid base of research or regulatory control. | Legal Definition of Alternative Medicine

Alzheimer's: A degenerative disease of the brain of unknown origin resulting in destruction of brain tissue and deterioration in brain function. | Legal Definition of Alzheimer's

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

Ambidexter: A lawyer who purports to act for both sides. | Legal Definition of Ambidexter

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. | Legal Definition of Ambiguity

Ambulance Chaser: One who follows up cases of accident and tries to induce the injured party to bring suit for damages. | Legal Definition of Ambulance Chaser

Ambulatory: Something which is mobile or not cast in stone; which can be changed. | Legal Definition of Ambulatory

Ambush Interview: An unfair, deceptive or manipulative journalism practise of select use of interviews so as to create deceitful impressions. | Legal Definition of Ambush Interview

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

Amicus Curiae: Latin: friend of the court. | Legal Definition of Amicus Curiae

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

Anarchy: Absence of law. | Legal Definition of Anarchy

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. | Legal Definition of Anchorage

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. | Legal Definition of Ancient Lights

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

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

Angary: The right of a state at war, in circumstances of necessity, to seize or destroy property belonging to a neutral state. | Legal Definition of Angary

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

Animus: Latin: intention. | Legal Definition of Animus

Animus Contrahendi: Latin: an intention to contract. | Legal Definition of Animus Contrahendi

Animus Furandi: Latin: an intent to do wrong. | Legal Definition of Animus Furandi

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. | Legal Definition of Annulment

Antedate: To date back; retroactively. | Legal Definition of Antedate

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

Anti-psychotic Drugs: Tranquilizing pharmaceutical products used to minimize or control psychotic episodes or the symptoms associated with schizophrenia. | Legal Definition of Anti-psychotic Drugs

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

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

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

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

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. | Legal Definition of Anton Piller Order

Apartheid: A system of racial segregation or discrimination previously in force in South Africa. | Legal Definition of Apartheid

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

Appeal: To ask a more senior court or person to review a decision of a subordinate court or person. | 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. | Legal Definition of Appearance

Appellant: The person who initiates an appeal of a judicial body's decision. | Legal Definition of Appellant

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

Appraisal: The informed and objective inspection and estimation of a thing's worth. | 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. | Legal Definition of Appraisement

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

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

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 | Legal Definition of Arbitration

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

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

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

Arbitration Rules: The rules of procedure that govern a particular arbitration. | Legal Definition of Arbitration Rules

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

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

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

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. | Legal Definition of Armchair Rule

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

Arraignment: 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. | Legal Definition of Arraignment

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

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. | Legal Definition of Arrest

Arrestment: Scots law: the seizure of monies owned by a debtor but held by a third-party. | Legal Definition of Arrestment

Arson: The intentional setting of a fire to a building. | Legal Definition of Arson

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

Assassination: The targeted, covert killing of an individual without legal process and usually for reasons of, though not necessarily limited to, political or military expediency. | Legal Definition of Assassination

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

Asset: A thing of value. | Legal Definition of Asset

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

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

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. | Legal Definition of Association

Assumpsit: Medieval era action for breach of contract. | Legal Definition of Assumpsit

Asylum: A secure place of refuge. | 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. | Legal Definition of Asylum Shopping

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. | Legal Definition of Athens Passenger Convention

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

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

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

Audiovisual Work: Serial images, with or without sound, intended to be shown by the use of projectors, viewers, or electronic equipment, regardless of the nature of the material in which the works are embodied. | Legal Definition of Audiovisual Work

Audita Querela: An application to a court after judgment seeking to avoid execution of that judgment because of some event intervening between judgment and execution which compromises the judgment creditor's entitlement to execution. | Legal Definition of Audita Querela

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

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. | Legal Definition of Authentic Act

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

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

Autopsy: The post-mortem dissection and examination of an individual to determine the cause of death. | Legal Definition of Autopsy

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. | Legal Definition of Autrefois Acquit

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

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). | Legal Definition of Avulsion

Avunculus: Latin: a mother's brother. | Legal Definition of Avunculus

Award: The decision of an arbitrator. | Legal Definition of Award