Legal Definitions

Law Definitions from A – Z

We have provided you a quick way to access law definitions relating to your legal needs. Click on a letter and search for a legal term. If you want more information regarding each definition you can simply search our site for topics and articles relating to each definition.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Law Definitions

Law Definitions from A – Z

We have provided you a quick way to access law definitions relating to your legal needs. Click on a letter and search for a legal term.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

A – Law Definitions

ab initio

AB trust

abandonment (of a child)

abandonment (of a spouse)

abandonment (of trademark)

abatement

abstract of title

abstract of trust

abuse

accessory

accompanying relative

accomplice

accord and satisfaction

accumulation trust

acknowledged father

acknowledgment

acquittal

act of God

action

actus reus

ADA

ADEA

ademption

adjustable rate mortgage (ARM)

administration (of an estate)

administrative expenses

administrator

administratrix

admissible evidence

admission

adopt

adopted child

adoption

adoptive parent

ADR

adult

adultery

adverse possession

affiant

affirmative action

affirmative defense

Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA)

age of majority

agent

aggravate

aggravating circumstances

agreement

alien registration receipt card (ARC)

alimony

allegation

alternate beneficiary

alternative dispute resolution (ADR)

Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA)

amicus curiae

ancillary probate

annual meeting

annuity

annulment

answer

anticipation

appeal

appellant

appellate court

appraisal

appraiser

appreciation
arbitration

argument

ARM

arraignment

arrearages

arrest

arrest warrant

articles of incorporation

assault

assignment

assignment (of copyright)

association

asylum

at issue memorandum

at will employment

attestation

attorney fees

Attorney General

attorney work product privilege

attorney-client privilege

attorney-in-fact

attractive nuisance

audit

augmented estate

authenticate

author

automatic stay

autopsy

avails

avowal

B – Law Definitions

bail

bail bond

bailiff

bailor

balloon payment

ballot

bankruptcy

bankruptcy estate

bankruptcy trustee

bar examination

basis

battery

bench

bench trial

beneficiary

bequeath

bequest

Berne Convention

best evidence rule

best interests (of the child)

beyond a reasonable doubt

bifurcate

binding precedent

blanket search warrant

blue law

blue sky laws

bond

booking

border patrol

breach

breach of contract

brief

bulk sales law

burden of proof

burglary

business records exception

bylaws

bypass trust

C – Law Definitions

C corporation

capital case

capital gains

capital punishment

capitalized interest

caption

carryover basis

case

cash surrender value

cause of action

CC&R

CCCS

census

certification mark

certified copy

challenge for cause

chambers

Chapter 13 bankruptcy

Chapter 13 plan

Chapter 7 bankruptcy

charge

charitable trust

child

child support

circuit court

circumstantial evidence

civil case

civil procedure

Civil Rights Act of 1964

class action

cleaning fee

clear and present danger

close corporation

closing argument

co-tenants

codicil

collateral

collection agency

collective mark

collective work

collision damage waiver

collision insurance coverage

collusion

comfort care

comity of nations

commerce

commercial frustration

common law marriage

community property

community property with right of survivorship

comparable rectitude

competent evidence

compilation

complaint

comprehensive insurance coverage

condemnation

conditions of carriage

condonation

confidential communication

confine

confinement in prison

conformed copy

connivance

consanguinity

conservator

consideration

Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA)

consortium

constable

constructive eviction

Consumer Credit Counseling Service (CCCS)

Consumer Leasing Act

consummation

contempt

contempt of court

contest

contingency

contingency fee

contingent beneficiary

continuance

contraband

contract

conviction

cookie

cooling-off rule

cooperative insurance

copy

copyright

copyright notice

Copyright Office

copyright owner

copyright registration

corporate resolution

corporation

corpus delecti

cosigner

counterclaim

counteroffer

court calendar

court costs

covenant

covenants, conditions & restrictions (CC&Rs)

credit bureau

credit counseling

credit insurance

credit report

creditor

crime

crime against nature

criminal case

criminal complaint

criminal insanity

criminal law

cross-complaint

cross-examination

cross-licensing

cruelty

curator

current monthly income

custodial interference

custodian

custody (of a child)

cybersquatting

D – Law Definitions

damages

DBA

death taxes

debenture

debit card

debt collector

debtor

decedent

decision

declaration under penalty of perjury

declaratory judgment

dedimus potestatum

deductible

deduction

deed

deed in lieu (of foreclosure)

deed of trust

deep link

defamation

default

default judgment

defeasance

defendant

defined benefit plan

defined contribution plan

demur

demurrer

dependents benefits

deponent

deportation

deposition

derivative work

descriptive mark

desertion

design patent

detain

devise

devisee

dictum

dilution

direct examination

directed verdict

director

disability benefits

discharge (of debts)

dischargeable debts

disclaim

disclaimer

disclosure

discovery

disinherit

disposable income

dispute

dissolution

distinctive mark

distributee

District Attorney (D.A.)

district court

diversity jurisdiction

dividend

divorce

divorce agreement

docket

doctrine of equivalents

doing business as (DBA)

domain name

dominant tenement

donation

donee

donor

dower and curtesy

down payment

draft

driving under the influence (DUI)

driving while intoxicated (DWI)

drunk driving

DUI

durable power of attorney

durable power of attorney for finances

durable power of attorney for health care

DWI

dynamite charge

E – Law Definitions

easement

easement by prescription

eavesdropping

EEOC

effluxion of time

eggshell skull

egress

Electronic Funds Transfer Act

electronic signature

electronic surveillance

electronic ticket

elements (of a crime)

emancipation

emergency protective order

eminent domain

Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA)

encroachment

endowment insurance

entity

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)

equitable distribution

ERISA

escheat

estate

estate planning

estate taxes

estoppel

eviction

evidence

evidentiary

exclusionary rule

exclusive license

exculpatory clause

executive privilege

executor

executrix

exempt property

exemption trust

express warranty

expunge

extended warranty contracts

F – Law Definitions

failure of consideration

failure of issue

Fair Credit Billing Act (FCBA)

Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA)

Fair Debt Collections & Practices Act (FDCPA)

Fair Housing Act & Fair Housing Amendments Act

Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)

fair use rule

false arrest

false imprisonment

family allowance

Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)

family court

fault divorce

federal court

Federal Trade Commission (FTC)

felony

Feres doctrine

fictitious business name

fictitious name

fieri facias

file

filing fee

final beneficiary

finder’s fee

fishing expedition

fitness

fixed in a tangible medium of expression

fixed rate mortgage

for sale by owner (FSBO)

forbearance

foreign divorce

forfeiture

form interrogatories

forum

forum nonconveniens

forum shopping

foster care

foster child

framing

fraternal benefit society benefits

fraud

fraudulent transfer

freeze-out

friendly suit

friendly witness

frolic

FSBO

FTC

funding a trust

future interest

G – Law Definitions

garnishment

GATT

General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT)

general partner

generation-skipping transfer tax

generation-skipping trust

generic mark

genericide

gift taxes

golden rule argument

grace period

grand jury

grandfather clause

grant deed

grantor

grantor retained income trust

gravamen

green card

greenmail

gross estate

gross lease

grounds for divorce

group life or group health insurance

guaranteed reservation

guarantor

guaranty

guardian

guardian ad litem

guardian of the estate

guardianship

H – Law Defintions

habeas corpus

habeas corpus ad subjiciendum

head of family

head of household

health benefits

health care directives

health care proxy

hearing

hearsay rule

heir

heir apparent

heir at law

high seas

hold harmless

holographic will

home study

home warranty

homeowners’ association

homestead

homestead declaration

homicide

hot pursuit

house closing

householder

housekeeper

Housing and Urban Development (HUD)

HUD

hung jury

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