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Most Popular Legal Definitions
able-bodied
Having a strong, healthy body. In law, it is often used to describe a person who
is capable of earning a living and, therefore, able to pay alimony or child
support.
admission of guilt
statement by someone accused of a crime that he/she committed the offense
inter se
tin, 'between or amongst themselves.'
attachment
the seizing of money or property prior to
getting a judgment in court, in contemplation that the plaintiff will win at
trial and will require the money or property to cover the judgment; a temporary
attachment may be allowed by court order without both parties being present
based on a declaration of the party wanting the attachment that there is clear
proof that the defendant is going to flee
totalitarianism
a system of government in which the ruling party
does not represent the populace but functions autonomously controlling nearly
all aspects of both public and private life
mitigating circumstances
A person who sues another for damages has an obligation to minimize those
damages, as far as reasonable.
authorities
1) previous decisions by courts of appeal which
provide legal guidance to a court on questions in a current lawsuit, which are
called "precedents;" legal briefs (written arguments) are often called "points
and authorities; thus, a lawyer "cites" the previously decided cases as
"authorities" for his/her legal positions 2) a common term for law enforcement,
as in "I'm going to call the authorities" (i.e. police)
dictatorship
form of government with a single person as decision-maker; a single
ruler
constitution
basic law or laws of a nation or a state which sets out how that state will be
organized by deciding the powers and authorities of government
spousal support
Payments to an ex-spouse which are temporary or indefinite, designed to pool and
share the income of both spouses for that period of time necessary for the
lower-income spouse to become economically self-sufficient.