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Most Popular Legal Definitions
plaintiff
The person, or persons, who initiates a case
with the court.
carnal knowledge
from Latin carnalis for "fleshly;" carnal knowledge, knowledge of sexual
intercourse between a male and female in which there is at least some
penetration, no matter how slight, is legally significant in that it is a
necessary legal characteristic or element of rape, molestation, and statutory
rape
de facto
Latin, exists "in fact", term used to indicate
something already done or established
criminal
an individual found guilty of a crime
dominium directum
Latin, the qualified ownership of a landlord,
not having possession or use of property but retaining ownership.
law of nature
The uncertain and elastic concept of regulation
of conduct based on morality, conscience or God.
vacancy
an open or unoccupied area; available space; opening
fourteenth amendment
An amendment to the U.S. Constitution as a part
of the Civil War amendments designed to give full civil and legal rights to
slaves, incorporated the Bill of Rights into state law, created the due process
clause, and is known as the greatest expansion of individual rights since the
Bill of Rights
joint custody
A Court decision that both parents share joint legal custody and joint physical
custody
lex fori
The law applicable to particular legal proceedings; Latin, for the law of the
forum.