Legal Terms Beginning with R
Ransom
Money paid to have a kidnapped person released. - (see expanded definition at duhaime.org)
Rape
sex with a woman, other than a wife, without her consent. But many states have changed this basic definition to include sex with a minor (with or without consent; also known as statutory rape), sex with a man without his consent, or exempting men who force their wives to have sex. - (see expanded definition at duhaime.org)
Real property
Immoveable property such as land or a building or an object that, though at one time a chattel, has become permanently affixed to land or a building. - (see expanded definition at duhaime.org)
Reasonable Doubt
A threshold of proof in criminal cases in most modern criminal law systems which requires the trier of fact to be sure, not certain, of the accused guilt, before convicting. - (see expanded definition at duhaime.org)
Rebuttable presumption
Usually, every element of a case must be proven to a judge or a jury. - (see expanded definition at duhaime.org)
Redemption
Buying back. When a vendor later buys the property back. - (see expanded definition at duhaime.org)
Refugee
A person who is outside his state of origin or of residence, cannot return without exposure to human-rights related persecution. - (see expanded definition at duhaime.org)
Relator
An informer; a person who has supplied the facts required for a criminal prosecution or a civil suit. - (see expanded definition at duhaime.org)
Remainder
A right to future enjoyment or ownership of real property. - (see expanded definition at duhaime.org)
REMO
Abbreviation for reciprocal enforcement of maintenance orders and the name of the international system of recognition, registration and enforcement of child and spousal support orders between countries which have agreed, between themselves, to enforce each other’s maintenance orders. - (see expanded definition at duhaime.org)
Rent
This is the consideration paid by a tenant to a landlord in exchange for the exclusive use and enjoyment of land, a building or a part of a building. - (see expanded definition at duhaime.org)
Replevin
A legal action taken to reclaim goods which have been distrained. - (see expanded definition at duhaime.org)
Rescind
To abrogate or cancel a contract putting the parties in the same position they would have been in had there been no contract. - (see expanded definition at duhaime.org)
Res gestae
Latin for things done. A peculiar rule, used mostly in criminal cases, which allows hearsay if the statement is made during the excitement of the litigated event. - (see expanded definition at duhaime.org)
Res ipsa loquitur
Latin for the thing speaks for itself. Generally, in tort, the mere fact of an accident is not proof of negligence. But in some cases, negligence is presumed on the defendant since the object causing injury was in his or her control. This is the res ipsa loquitur doctrine. - (see expanded definition at duhaime.org)
Res judicata
Latin: A matter which has already been conclusively decided by a court. - (see expanded definition at duhaime.org)
Respondeat superior
Let the principal answer. - (see expanded definition at duhaime.org)
Respondent
The party that responds to a claim filed in court against them by a plaintiff. - (see expanded definition at duhaime.org)
Restitutio in integrum
Latin for restitution to the original position. In contract law, upon breach of contract, the injured party may ask the court to reverse the contract and revert the parties to their respective positions before the contract was accepted. - (see expanded definition at duhaime.org)
Restitution
Under ancient English common law, when a party enforced a court judgement and then that judgement was overturned on appeal, the appellant could ask the appeal court for restitution, or financial compensation placing that appellant in the same position as if the original legal decision had not been enforced. - (see expanded definition at duhaime.org)
Restrictive Covenant
A contract to be limited in some regards as to future conduct. - (see expanded definition at duhaime.org)
Resulting trust
A trust that is presumed by the court from certain situations. - (see expanded definition at duhaime.org)
Retainer
A contract between a lawyer and his (or her) client, wherein the lawyer agrees to represent and provide legal advice to the client, in exchange for money. - (see expanded definition at duhaime.org)
Reversion
A future interest left in a transferror or his (or her) heirs. A reservation in a real property conveyance that the property reverts back to the original owner upon the occurence of a certain event. - (see expanded definition at duhaime.org)
Rider
A written amendment as to the coverage of an existing life or health insurance policy. - (see expanded definition at duhaime.org)
Right of first refusal
A right given to a person to be the first person allowed to purchase a certain object if it is ever offered for sale. - (see expanded definition at duhaime.org)
Riparian rights
Special rights of people who own land that runs into a river bank (a riparian owner is a person who owns land that runs into a river). - (see expanded definition at duhaime.org)
Robbery
Theft under threat or use of force. - (see expanded definition at duhaime.org)
Rota Court
Medieval Papal and Roman Catholic court. - (see expanded definition at duhaime.org)
Rule against perpetuities
A common law rule that prevents suspending the transfer of property for more then 21 years or a lifetime plus 21 years. - (see expanded definition at duhaime.org)
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