Common Legal Terms

Common Legal Terms terms

1. A contrario Argument based on contract.
2. A datu From the date.
3. A fortiori With greater force.
4. A maximis ad minima From the greatest to the least.
5. A priori From something previously determined.
6. Ab initio From the beginning.
7. Absence d'esprit Absence of mind.
8. Abstract of Title A historical summary provided by a title insurance company of all records affecting the title to a property.
9. Acceptance The written approval of the buyer's offer by the seller.
10. Accomplice 1. A partner in a crime. 2. A person who knowingly and voluntarily participates with another in a criminal activity.
11. Acknowledgment 1. A formal declaration before an authorized official by the person who executed an instrument that it is his/her free act and deed. 2.
12. Acquittal A release, absolution or discharge of an obligation or liability. In criminal law, the finding of not guilty.
13. Action Case, cause, suit or controversy disputed or contested before a court.
14. Ad curiam Before the court; to the court.
15. Ad damnum To the damage.
16. Ad finem To the end; at the end.
17. Ad hoc For this purpose or occasion.
18. Ad infinitum To infinity.
19. Ad libitum (Abbr. ad lib) At will.
20. Ad litem For purpose of the suit or action.
21. Ad rem To the thing at hand.
22. Ad valorem To the value.
23. Addendum (Pl. addenda) Something added; appendix or supplement.
24. Additur An increase by a judge in the amount of damages awarded by a jury.
25. Adjudication 1. Giving or pronouncing a judgment or decree. 2. The judgment given.
26. Administrative agencies Agencies created by the legislative branch of government to administer laws pertaining to specific areas such as social security, taxes, transportation…
27. Administrator Administrator means the Administrator of the Wage and Hour Division, Department of Labor, and such authorized representatives as may be designated to…
28. Admiralty law Also, maritime law. That body of law relating to ships, shipping, marine commerce and navigation; the transportation of persons or property by sea, etc.
29. Admissible evidence Evidence that can be legally and properly introduced in a civil or criminal trial.
30. Admonish To advise or caution. For example, the court may admonish counsel for improper actions.
31. Admortization Amortization.
32. Advance sheets Paperback pamphlets published by legal publishers periodically which contain cases.
33. adversary proceeding A lawsuit arising in or related to a bankruptcy case that is commenced by filing a complaint with the court.
34. Adverse possession Method of acquiring real property under certain conditions by possession of same for a statutory period.
35. Adversus Against.
36. Affiant The person who makes and subscribes to an affidavit.
37. Affidavit A sworn statement in writing before a proper official, such as a notary public.
38. Affirmation A declaration, oath or promise made by a person.
39. Affirmative Defense The defendant denies or admits what the plaintiff says in the complaint and says that there is a justifiable reason.
40. affirmed In the practice of appellate courts, the word means that the decision of the trial court is found to be correct on appeal.
41. Agenda Things to be done.
42. Agreement Mutual consent.
43. Aid and Abet To actively, knowingly or intentionally assist another person in the commission or attempted commission of a crime.
44. Alford plea A defendant’s plea that allows him to assert his innocence but allows the court to sentence the defendant without conducting a trial.
45. alias Called by another name.
46. Alibi Elsewhere; in another place.
47. Alien A foreign-born person who has not qualified as a citizen of the country.
48. Alii Others.
49. Allegation A statement of the issues in a written document (a pleading) which a person is prepared to prove in court.
50. Alter ego A counterpart.
51. Alteration Any change involving an erasure or rewriting in the date, amount, or payee of a check or other negotiable instrument.
52. Alternative dispute resolution A process by which parties can settle a dispute without a full, formal trial. Methods include mediation, conciliation, arbitration and settlement, among…
53. American Bar Association A national association of lawyers whose primary purpose is improvement of lawyers and the administration of justice.
54. American Law Reports A publication which reports cases from all United States jurisdictions by subject matter.
55. Amicus Friend.
56. Amicus curiae Friend of the court.
57. Ancillary A proceeding which is auxiliary or subordinate to another proceeding.
58. Animo With intent.
59. Animo et facto An intention and fact.
60. Anno Domini (Abbr. A.D.) In the year of our Lord.
61. Annotations Remarks, notes, case summaries or commentaries following a statute which describe interpretations of a statute or a case.
62. Answer The defendant may file a written answer, notifying both the Court and the plaintiff exactly what the defendant’s response is to the facts in the…
63. Answers to Interrogatories A formal, written statement by a party to a lawsuit which answers each question or interrogatory propounded (asked) by the other party.
64. Ante Before.
65. Antitrust acts Federal and state statutes to protect trade and commerce from unlawful restraints, price discriminations, price fixing and monopolies.
66. Appeal To call for a review of an IRS decision or proposed adjustment.
67. Appeal Bond A guaranty by the appealing party which insures that certain court costs will be paid.
68. Appearance The act of formally coming into court as a party to a suit either in person or through an attorney.
69. Appellate About appeals; an appellate court has the power to review the judgment of another lower court or tribunal.
70. Appellate Court A court having jurisdiction to hear appeals and review a lower court's decisions.
71. Appellee Party to whom the appeal is filed against.
72. Appendix A small, fingerlike pouch that sticks out from the cecum (the first part of the large intestine near the end of the small intestine).
73. Apropos Pertinent to the purpose or time.
74. Arbitrator A private, disinterested person chosen by the parties in arbitration to hear evidence concerning the dispute and to make an award based on the evidence.
75. Arguendo By arguing or reasoning; being in argument.
76. Arraignment The hearing at which the accused is brought before the court to enter a plea to the criminal charge in the indictment.
77. Arrest To take into custody by legal authority.
78. Arrest warrant A written order directing the arrest of a party. Arrest warrants are issued by a judge after a showing of probable cause.
79. Assault A threat to inflict injury on someone with an apparent ability to do so. Also, any intentional display of force that would give the victim reason to fear…
80. Assignment Assignment occurs when someone who has written, or sold, a listed option receives a notice that the option has been exercised and he or she must fulfill…
81. Assumption of risk A doctrine under which a person may not recover for an injury received when a person has voluntarily exposed himself/herself to a known danger.
82. Attachment Taking a person's property to satisfy a courtordered debt.
83. Attorney of Record The principal attorney in a lawsuit who signs all formal documents relating to the suit. In pro se cases, the party signs such documents.
84. Attorney-at-law An advocate, counsel or official agent employed in preparing, managing and trying cases in the courts.
85. Attorney-in-fact A person (who is not necessarily a lawyer) authorized by another to act in his or her place, either for some particular purpose, as to do a specific act…
86. Bail Money or other security (such as a bail bond) provided to the court to temporarily allow a person's release from jail and assure their appearance in court.
87. Bail bond An obligation signed by the accused to secure his or her presence at the trial.
88. Bailiff An officer of the court responsible for keeping order, maintaining appropriate courtroom decorum and custody of the jury.
89. Bankruptcy The legal proceedings by which the affairs of a bankrupt person are turned over to a trustee or receiver for administration under the bankruptcy laws.
90. Bankruptcy Judge A judicial officer of the United States district court who is the court official with decision-making power over federal bankruptcy cases.
91. Bankruptcy law The area of federal law dealing with bankrupt persons or businesses.
92. Bar 1. Historically, the partition separating the general public from the space occupied by the judges, lawyers and other participants in a trial. 2.
93. Bar examination A state examination taken by prospective lawyers in order to be admitted and licensed to practice law.
94. Battery A beating or wrongful physical violence. The threat to use force is an "assault;" the actual use of force is a battery, which usually includes an assault.
95. Bench The seat occupied by the judge. More broadly, the court itself.
96. bench trial Trial without a jury in which a judge decides the facts.
97. Bench warrant An order issued by a judge for the arrest of a person.
98. Beneficiary A person who is entitled to receive the benefits or proceeds of a will, trust, insurance policy, retirement plan, annuity, or other contract.
99. Bequeath To give a gift to someone through a will.
100. Bequests Gifts made in a will.