Common Legal Terms terms starting with B

28 terms

  1. 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.
  2. Bail bond An obligation signed by the accused to secure his or her presence at the trial.
  3. Bailiff An officer of the court responsible for keeping order, maintaining appropriate courtroom decorum and custody of the jury.
  4. 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.
  5. Bankruptcy Judge A judicial officer of the United States district court who is the court official with decision-making power over federal bankruptcy cases.
  6. Bankruptcy law The area of federal law dealing with bankrupt persons or businesses.
  7. Bar 1. Historically, the partition separating the general public from the space occupied by the judges, lawyers and other participants in a trial. 2.
  8. Bar examination A state examination taken by prospective lawyers in order to be admitted and licensed to practice law.
  9. 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.
  10. Bench The seat occupied by the judge. More broadly, the court itself.
  11. bench trial Trial without a jury in which a judge decides the facts.
  12. Bench warrant An order issued by a judge for the arrest of a person.
  13. Beneficiary A person who is entitled to receive the benefits or proceeds of a will, trust, insurance policy, retirement plan, annuity, or other contract.
  14. Bequeath To give a gift to someone through a will.
  15. Bequests Gifts made in a will.
  16. Best evidence Primary evidence; the best evidence available. Evidence short of this is "secondary.
  17. Beyond a reasonable doubt The burden of proof that the State must establish in a criminal action.
  18. binding precedent A prior decision by a court that must be followed without a compelling reason or significantly different facts or issues.
  19. Bona fide In good faith, without fraud.
  20. Bond A long-term debt instrument with the promise to pay a specified amount of interest and to return the principal amount on a specified maturity date.
  21. Booking The process of photographing, fingerprinting and recording identifying data of a suspect. This process follows the arrest.
  22. Bound supplement A supplement to a book or books which updates the material in permanent form. See pocket part.
  23. Breach 1. The breaking or violating of a law, right or duty, either by an act or omission. 2. The failure to carry out any condition of a contract.
  24. Breach of contract An unjustified failure to perform under the terms of a contract when performance is due.
  25. Brief A written statement submitted by the lawyer for each side in a case that explains to the judges why they should decide the case or a particular part of a…
  26. Burden of proof In the law of evidence, the necessity or duty of affirmatively proving a fact or facts in dispute on an issue raised between the parties in a lawsuit.
  27. Business bankruptcy A proceeding under the Bankruptcy Code filed by a business entity.
  28. Bylaws Bylaws are the self-imposed rules governing an incorporated company. The bylaws cover details such as the structure of the company, what the company's…