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Most Popular Legal Definitions

precatory words

Words that express a wish or a desire rather than a clear command.

summation

the final argument of an attorney at the close of a trial in which he or she attempts to convince the judge of the virtues of the client's case.

paralegal

A person who is not a lawyer but provides a limited number of legal services.

custody

charge and control of a person or item of property

bill of lading

receipt obtained by the shipper of goods from the carrier (trucking company, railroad, ship or air freighter) for shipment to a particular buyer; it is a contract protecting the shipper by guaranteeing payment and satisfies the carrier that the recipient has proof of the right to the goods

bearer

anyone holding something; such as a check, promissory note, bank draft, or bond; this is important when the document state it is "payable to the bearer"

statute of uses

A 1535 English law that prevented, for a time, the legal structure of a use.

occupancy

the act of holding or taking possession

accord and satisfaction

an agreement to accept less than is legally due in order to wrap up a specified matter; once the accord and satisfaction is established, and the amount paid, the debt is cleared

blackmail

the crime of threatening to reveal embarrassing, disgraceful or damaging facts (or rumors) about a person to the public, family, spouse or associates unless paid off to not carry out the threat