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Most Popular Legal Definitions

abuse of discretion

when a trial judge makes an egregious mistake during a trial or on the ruling of a motion that is results in an unfair trial

general average

A principle of maritime law where in the event of emergency, if cargo is jettisoned, the loss is shared proportionately by all parties with a financial interest in the voyage.

defendant

individual, company or organization that defends a legal action taken by a plaintiff and against which the court has been asked to order damages or specific corrective action redress some type of unlawful or improper action alleged by the plaintiff

limited partner

A unique colleague in a partnership relationship who has agreed to be liable only to the extent of his investment.

bench warrant

a warrant issued by a judge, often to command someone to appear before the judge, with a setting of an amount of bail to be posted, generally; a bench warrant is used in lesser matters to encourage the party appear in court.

chain of title

The succession of title ownership to real property from the present owner back to the original owner at some distant time.

ad hoc

From Latin, meaning "for this purpose only;" thus, an ad hoc committee is formed to serve a specific purpose; an ad hoc attorney is hired to handle one problem and often is a specialist in a particular area.

life estate

A right to use and enjoy land only for the life of the life tenant.

criminal bankruptcy

the forced bankruptcy of a convicted person

trustee

a person a entity who holds the assets of a trustee for the benefit of the beneficiaries and manages the trust and its assets under the terms of the trust stated in the declaration of trust which created it.