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Most Popular Legal Definitions
bail bondsman
professional agent for an insurance company who
specializes in providing bail bonds for people charged with crimes and awaiting
trial in order to have them released
beyond a reasonable doubt
part of jury's instructions in all criminal
trials; in which the jurors are told that they can only find the defendant
guilty if they are convinced "beyond a reasonable doubt" of his or her guilt;
sometimes referred to as "to a moral certainty," the phrase is fraught with
uncertainty as to meaning, however; criminal justice experts have concluded that
it would mean being 99% sure; in civil court to find someone liable they would
have to only take greater than 50% fault
lemon laws
state laws the ensure a certain degree of quality to consumers when purchasing a
car; generally, if repairs can not be made within a specific time constraint,
the consumer is to be refunded or compensated for original purchase price
bill of exchange
a writing by a party (maker or drawer) ordering
another (payor) to pay a certain amount to a third party (payee); it is the same
as a draft; a bill of exchange drawn on a bank account is a "check"
attestation
the act of witnessing a signature for the
purpose of declaring that a document was properly signed and declared by the
signer to be his or her signature
mediation
A neutral facilitator who assists the parties to a dispute in communicating and
negotiating a settlement.
set off
A claim by a defendant in a lawsuit that the plaintiff owes the defendant money
which should be subtracted from the amount of damages claimed by the
plaintiff.
autopsy
post-mortem evaluation of a deceased body
dower
A widow's life estate interest in her husband's
real property if he died.
advisory opinion
an opinion stated by a judge or a court upon the request of a legislative body
or government agency; an advisory opinion has no force of law but is given as a
matter of courtesy