Common Legal Terms terms starting with I

66 terms

  1. Ibidem (Abbr. Ib., ib., Ibid., or ibid.) In the same place, or case, or on the same page.
  2. Id est (Abbr. i.e.) That is; that is to say.
  3. Idem (Abbr. Id.) The very same, exactly this.
  4. Immigrants Persons who come into a foreign country or region to live.
  5. Immigration The entry of foreign persons into a country to live permanently.
  6. Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) A federal agency which regulates immigration and naturalization of aliens.
  7. Immunity (ih-MYOO-nih-tee) The condition of being protected against an infectious disease.
  8. impeachment A criminal proceeding against a public official.
  9. Impeachment of a witness An attack on the credibility (believability) of a witness, through evidence introduced for that purpose.
  10. Implied contract A contract not created or evidenced by the explicit agreement of the parties but one inferred by law.
  11. In actu In reality.
  12. In ambiguo Ambiguous; in doubt.
  13. In camera In chambers, or in private. A hearing in camera takes place outside of the presence of the jury and the public.
  14. In curia In court.
  15. In esse In being; to be.
  16. In extenso In full length; verbatim.
  17. In extremis At point of death; in extremity.
  18. In facto In fact or in deed.
  19. in forma pauperis As a poor person; a pauper.
  20. In futuro In the future.
  21. In hoc In this regard; in this.
  22. In initio In the beginning.
  23. In limine At the beginning; the threshold.
  24. In loco In the proper place or location.
  25. In loco parentis In the place of a parent.
  26. In medias res Into the midst of things.
  27. In pari delicto Of equal fault or guilt.
  28. In personam Against a certain person; against the person.
  29. In propria persona Persons who present their own case without lawyers. See pro se.
  30. In re In the matter of.
  31. In rem Against the thing.
  32. In situ (in si'too) the natural or normal place; confined to the site of origin without invasion or spread to neighboring tissues.
  33. In toto The whole; entirely.
  34. Inadmissible That which, under the rules of evidence, cannot be admitted or received as evidence.
  35. Incapacity Lack of legal ability to act; disability, incompetence; lack of adequate power.
  36. Incarceration Imprisonment in a jail, prison or penitentiary.
  37. Incompetent One who lacks ability, legal qualification or fitness to manage his/her own affairs.
  38. Inculpatory Evidence Evidence which tends to show the defendant’s guilt.
  39. Indeterminate sentence A sentence of imprisonment to a specified minimum and maximum period of time, specifically authorized by statute, subject to termination by a parole board…
  40. Indictment A written accusation by a grand jury charging a person with a felony. See information.
  41. Indigent Needy or impoverished.
  42. Infinito Perpetually; to infinity.
  43. Information Accusatory document, filed by a prosecutor, detailing misdemeanor charges against a party.
  44. Infra Beneath; below.
  45. Infraction A violation of law not punishable by imprisonment. Minor traffic offenses generally are considered infractions.
  46. Inheritance tax A tax on property that an heir or beneficiary under a will receives from a deceased person's estate. The heir or beneficiary pays this tax.
  47. Initial appearance The first hearing in court before a referee/judge. This is similar to an arraignment hearing on criminal cases.
  48. initial hearing Court proceeding in which the defendant learns of his rights and the charges against him and the judge decides bail.
  49. Injunction An order or remedy issued by the court at the request of the complaining party, which forbids another party to do some act which he/she is threatening or…
  50. Insolvent When the total debt of an entity is greater than all of its property.
  51. Instructions Judge's explanation to the jury before it begins deliberations of the questions it must answer and the applicable law governing the case.
  52. Intentional tort Wrong perpetrated by one who intends to break the law.
  53. Inter alia Among other things.
  54. Inter alios Among other persons.
  55. Inter vivos Between living persons.
  56. Interlocutory Temporary; provisional; interim; not final.
  57. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) The federal agency that collects income taxes in the United States.
  58. Interrogatories A set or series of written questions propounded to a party, witness or other person having information or interest in a case; a discovery device.
  59. Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) A federal agency which regulates all transportation in interstate commerce.
  60. Intervention (IN-ter-VEN-shun) In medicine, a treatment or action taken to prevent or treat disease, or improve health in other ways.
  61. interview A meeting with the police or prosecutor.
  62. Involuntary bankruptcy A proceeding initiated by creditors requesting the bankruptcy court to place a debtor in liquidation.
  63. Ipse He; himself.
  64. Ipso facto By the act itself; or by the fact itself.
  65. Ipso jure By the law itself.
  66. Issue When a corporation offers a stock or bond for sale, or a government offers a bond, the security is known as an issue, and the company or government is the…