Dictionary of Law
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abandoned property :: legal definition


Abandoned property - n. property left behind (often by a tenant) intentionally and permanently when it appears that the former owner (or tenant) does not intend to come back, pick it up, or use it. Examples may include possessions left in a house after the tenant has moved out or autos left beside a road for a long period of time, or patent rights of an inventor who does not apply for a patent and lets others use his invention without protest. One may have abandoned the property of contract rights by not doing what is required by the contract. However, an easement and other land rights are not abandoned property just because of non-use.

See also: abandon abandonment and Related Law Terms ↓


Related Law Terms

abandon :: v. to intentionally and permanently give up, surre ... lso: abandoned property abandonment
abandonment :: n. the act of intentionally and permanently giving ... : abandon abandoned property patent
Bill of Rights :: n. the first ten amendments to the federal Constit ... ved to the states or to the people.
claim :: 1) v. to make a demand for money, for property, or ... the government, it is lawsuit time.
color of title :: n. the appearance of having title to personal or r ... rty based on this "color of title."
common property :: n. 1) real property owned by "tenants in common," ... e, like parks and national forests.
conversion :: n. a civil wrong (tort) in which one converts anot ... the crime of theft. See also: theft
copyright :: 1) n. the exclusive right of the author or creator ... plagiarism public domain trademark
covenant :: 1) n. a promise in a written contract or a deed of ... o compete deed restrictive covenant
double jeopardy :: n. placing someone on trial a second time for an o ... that occurred thirty years earlier.
easement :: n. the right to use the real property of another f ... rstandings at the time of creation.
eminent domain :: n. the power of a governmental entity (federal, st ... ngs. See also: condemn condemnation
eviction :: n. a generic word for the act of expelling (kickin ... ve eviction lease unlawful detainer
fair use :: n. the non-competitive right to use of copyrighted ... for a royalty. See also: copyright
foreclosure :: n. the system by which a party who has loaned mone ... ced sale mortgage notice of default
fraud :: n. the intentional use of deceit, a trick or some ... audulent conveyance intrinsic fraud
grandfather clause :: n. 1) a clause in a statute or zoning ordinance (p ... Such laws are now unconstitutional.
interest :: n. 1) any and all, partial or total right to prope ... nal property real property standing
invasion of privacy :: n. the intrusion into the personal life of another ... randeis. See also: right to privacy
joint :: adj., adv. referring to property, rights or obliga ... ncy joint venture tenancy in common
joint tenancy :: n. a crucial relationship in the ownership of real ... ty property tenancy in common title
laches :: n. the legal doctrine that a legal right or claim ... , breach of contract, fraud, etc.).
land :: n. real property, real estate (and all that grows ... See also: real estate real property
lease :: 1) n. a written agreement in which the owner of pr ... triple net lease unlawful detainer
libel :: 1) n. to publish in print (including pictures), wr ... libel per se public figure slander
license :: 1) n. governmental permission to perform a particu ... eement. See also: licensee licensor
life estate :: n. the right to use or occupy real property for on ... hter, Sadie, will own the property.
literary property :: n. the writings of an author which entitles him/he ... as copyrighted. See also: copyright
mortgage :: n. a document in which the owner pledges his/her/i ... losure notice of default trust deed
nominal party :: n. a defendant or a plaintiff included in a lawsui ... ed. See also: necessary party party
non-conforming use :: n. the existing use (residential, commercial, agri ... eneral plan grandfathered in zoning
nuisance :: n. the unreasonable, unwarranted and/or unlawful u ... evening). See also: public nuisance
operation of law :: n. a change or transfer which occurs automatically ... atically upon the child turning 18.
option :: n. a right to purchase property or require another ... ng or upon expiration of the lease.
patent :: 1) adj. obvious. Used in such expressions as a "pa ... patent infringement patent pending
patent infringement :: n. the manufacture and/or use of an invention or i ... not. See also: infringement patent
possession :: n. 1) any article, object, asset or property which ... ctive possession. See also: possess
possessory interest :: n. in real estate, the intent and right of a perso ... o: possess possession real property
possibility of a reverter :: n. the potential that the title to a real property ... further issue. See also: reversion
prescription :: n. the method of acquiring an easement upon anothe ... ty. See also: prescriptive easement
privity :: n. contact, connection or mutual interest between ... with the seller. See also: contract
promissory note :: n. a written promise by a person (variously called ... lso: interest obligee obligor usury
public easement :: n. the right of the general public to use certain ... lso: easement prescriptive easement
quitclaim deed :: n. a real property deed which transfers (conveys) ... also: convey deed grant deed title
real property :: n. 1) all land, structures, firmly attached and in ... onal property real estate reversion
reentry :: n. taking back possession and going into real prop ... ages. See also: landlord and tenant
rental value :: n. the amount which would be paid for rental of si ... alimony to be paid. See also: rent
renunciation :: n. 1) giving up a right, such as a right of inheri ... renunciation is factually too late.
right :: 1) n. an entitlement to something, whether to conc ... e also: civil rights marital rights
rights :: n. 1) plural of right, which is the collection of ... evidence. See also: Miranda warning
seized :: (seised) n. 1) having ownership, commonly used in ... by force. See also: seisin seizure
self-defense :: n. the use of reasonable force to protect oneself ... ndalism. See also: assault homicide
servient estate :: n. real property which has an easement or other us ... See also: dominant estate easement
spot zoning :: n. a provision in a general plan which benefits a ... . See also: grandfathered in zoning
statute of limitations :: n. a law which sets the maximum period which one c ... ies. See also: demurrer laches toll
tax :: n. a governmental assessment (charge) upon propert ... unified estate and gift tax use tax
tenancy by the entirety :: n. joint ownership of title by husband and wife, i ... ee also: community property tenancy
tenancy in common :: n. title to property (usually real property, but i ... on. See also: joint tenancy tenancy
theft :: n. the generic term for all crimes in which a pers ... rglary embezzlement larceny robbery
Thirty-day notice :: n. a notice by a landlord to a tenant on a month-t ... e also: landlord and tenant service
trespass :: n. entering another person's property without perm ... for an illegal purpose is a crime.
undivided interest :: n. title to real property held by two or more pers ... y by the entirety tenancy in common
unlawful detainer :: n. 1) keeping possession of real property without ... Thirty-day notice three-day notice
use :: n. the right to enjoy the benefits of real propert ... ay it is only of academic interest.

Popular Law Searches

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testamentary disposition legal definition :: n. how the terms of a will divide the testator's ( ... named beneficiaries. See also: will
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forthwith legal definition :: adv. a term found in contracts, court orders and s ... mediacy, with no excuses for delay.
forthwith definition legal :: adv. a term found in contracts, court orders and s ... mediacy, with no excuses for delay.
what is to wit in a legal contract :: prep. that is to say. Example: "the passengers in ... tty Bumgartner and Sherry Younger."
mirror wills legal definition :: n. the wills of a husband and wife which are ident ... d each names the other as executor.
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sine qua non only relates to contract law :: (see-nay kwah nahn) prep. Latin for "without which ... qua non of the injury to Playmate.

Other Law Terms - A

a fortiori :: (ah-for-she-ory) prep. Latin for "with even strong ... rother Cain certainly is too young.
a priori assumption :: (ah-pree-ory) n. from Latin, an assumption that is ... when the reality is not so certain.
a.k.a. :: prep. abbreviation for "also known as" when someon ... nodgrass, a.k.a. "Snuffy the Snod."
ab initio :: prep. lawyer Latin for "from the start," as "it wa ... tart," as "it was legal ab initio."
abandon :: v. to intentionally and permanently give up, surre ... lso: abandoned property abandonment
abandoned property :: n. property left behind (often by a tenant) intent ... -use. See also: abandon abandonment
abandonment :: n. the act of intentionally and permanently giving ... : abandon abandoned property patent
abate :: v. to do away with a problem, such as a public or ... ty septic tank. See also: abatement
abatement :: n. 1) the removal of a problem which is against pu ... eneficiary in full. See also: abate
abduction :: n. the criminal taking away of a person by persuas ... g of children. See also: kidnapping
abet :: v. to help someone commit a crime, including helpi ... n the crime. See also: aid and abet
abeyance :: 1) n. when the owner- ship of property has not bee ... 2) legal jargon for "undetermined."
able-bodied :: adj. physically capable of working at a job or in ... of paying alimony or child support.
abortion :: n. the termination of pregnancy by various means, ... ed abortion continue in the future.
abrogate :: v. to annul or repeal a law or pass legislation th ... ons of a contract. See also: repeal
abscond :: v. 1) traditionally to leave a jurisdiction (where ... as in "he absconded with the loot."
absolute :: adj. complete, and without condition. ... j. complete, and without condition.
abstention doctrine :: n. when the Supreme Court refuses to exercise its ... being appealed from a state court.
abstract :: n. in general, a summary of a record or document, ... tract of judgment abstract of title
abstract of judgment :: n. a written summary of a judgment which states ho ... aying the debt. See also: levy lien