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Most Popular Legal Definitions

contempt of court

conduct that is disobedient, obstructive or contemptuous to the Court

American Bar Association

The largest organization of American lawyers, which is prestigious for formulating guidelines for the practice of law, giving direction to legislation, lobbying for the law profession, and evaluating federal judges; less then one-third of attorneys belong to the A.B.A

interloper

A person, who with legal right to do so, runs a business or who wrongfully interferes or intercepts another's business.

acceptance of service

agreement by a defendant, or their attorney, in a legal action to accept a complaint or other petition without having the sheriff or process server physically appear; the agreement of "acceptance of service" must be in writing

vagrancy

Moving about without a means to support oneself.

advancement

gift made by a person to one of his or her children or heirs in anticipation of a gift from the still-living parent's potential estate as an advance on one's inheritance; one should obtain proof that the advanced sum was against the projected inheritance

summary judgment

A court order ruling that no factual issues remain to be tried and therefore a cause of action or all causes of action in a complaint can be decided upon certain facts without trial.

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

federal court

courts under the jurisdiction of US law; separated into district courts, court of appeals, and the Supreme Court

long arm statues

Each court is bound to a territorial jurisdiction and does not normally have jurisdiction over persons that reside outside of that jurisdiction.