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Most Popular Legal Definitions

answer

filed by a defendant to respond to a complaint in a lawsuit filed and served upon that defendant

amended complaint

what results when the party suing changes the complaint they filed; complaints are amended to correct facts, add new causes of action, substitute discovered names for persons sued as "J. Does" or to properly plead a cause of action after the court found the initial complaint inadequate

silent partner

A person who invests in a company or partnership but does not take part in administering or directing the organization.

legal custody

A child custody decision which entails the right to make, or participate in, the significant decisions affecting a child's health and welfare.

abortion

The termination of pregnancy by various means. It was ruled in Roe v. Wade (1973) that a woman had the right to choose abortion to end a pregnancy through the first trimester.

complaint

an issue or formal statement brought against another individual or party

public policy

The principle that injury to the public good or public order constitutes a basis for setting aside acts or transactions.

appellate court

court of appeals which hears appeals from lower court decisions

interlocutory

Proceedings taken during the course of a trial.

patent

An exclusive privilege granted to an inventor to make, use or sell an invention for a set number of years.