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Most Popular Legal Definitions

bailiff

1) a court official, usually a deputy sheriff, who keeps order in the courtroom and handles various errands for the judge and clerk 2) in some jurisdictions, a person appointed by the court to handle the affairs of an incompetent person

vassal

an individual who submits to serve another usually for a return; a dependent; servant

delegatus non potest delegare

Latin, 'a delegate cannot delegate'

redemption

Buying back.

indigent

A poor person; not penniless, but in need and who has no financial support whatsoever.

capital stock

The original amount paid by investors into a corporation for its issued stock. Capital stock also does not reflect the value of corporate assets, which can go up or down based on profits, losses, or purchases of equipment. Capital stock remains as a ledger entry at the original price.

succession

The statutory rules of inheritance of a dead person's estate when the property is not given by the terms of a will, also called laws of "descent and distribution."

copyright

the exclusive right to produce or reproduce (copy), to perform in public or to publish an original literary or artistic work, pursuant to a statute usually called the Copyright Act, or some similar name

severance pay

An amount of money an employer owes to an employee in lieu of notice, in exchange for the employee's agreement to sever an employment contract forthwith.

capital offense

any criminal charge which is punishable by the death penalty, called "capital" since the defendant could lose his/her head (Latin for caput); crimes punishable by death vary from state to state and country to country.