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Most Popular Legal Definitions

vacate

1) For a judge to set aside or annul an order or judgment which he/she finds was improper. 2) to move out of real estate and cease occupancy.

beach bum trust provision

requirement in a trust that a beneficiary can only receive profit from the trust equal to the amount they earn; this provision is intended to encourage the beneficiary to work, and not just lie around the beach and live off the trust

and

the word is important in law, particularly when compared to or; most commonly it determines if one or both owners have to sign documents

codicil

An amendment to an existing will. The will is only changed to the extent of the codicil.

unfavorable witness

A witness that merely gives unfavorable answers to questions posed during examination in chief, that party may not cross examine the witness but may still lead evidence in contradiction.

ad valorem

Latin for "based on value," which generally applies to property taxes based on a percentage of the county's assessment of the property's value.

tenant

A person to whom a landlord grants temporary and exclusive use of land or a part of a building, usually in exchange for rent.

sanctuary

A special criminal law option available in Medieval times to persons who had just committed a crime, allowing them to seek refuge in a church or monastery.

clerk

An official or employee who handles the business of a court or a system of courts, maintains files of each case.

attorney of record

attorney who has appeared in court and/or signed pleadings or other forms on behalf of a client; the lawyer remains the attorney of record until some other attorney or the client substitutes for him/her, he/she is allowed by the court to withdraw, or after the case is closed; sometimes lawyers find themselves still on the record in cases (such as divorces) which they believe have long since been completed