Dictionary of Law
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claim :: legal definition


Claim - 1) v. to make a demand for money, for property, or for enforcement of a right provided by law. 2) n. the making of a demand (asserting a claim) for money due, for property, from damages or for enforcement of a right. If such a demand is not honored, it may result in a lawsuit. In order to enforce a right against a government agency (ranging for damages from a negligent bus driver to a shortage in payroll) a claim must be filed first. If rejected or ignored by the government, it is lawsuit time.


Related Law Terms

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
adverse possession :: n. a means to acquire title to land through obviou ... o: possession prescriptive easement
arrest :: v. 1) to take or hold a suspected criminal with le ... anda warning probable cause warrant
attachment :: n. the seizing of money or property prior to getti ... bond. See also: writ of attachment
attractive nuisance doctrine :: n. a legal doctrine which makes a person negligent ... ch make negligence harder to prove.
Bill of Rights :: n. the first ten amendments to the federal Constit ... ved to the states or to the people.
child custody :: n. a court's determination of which parent, relati ... pport custody divorce joint custody
claim against a governmental agency :: n. any time one believes he/she has a right to pay ... orter than other types of lawsuits.
claim in bankruptcy :: n. the written claim filed by persons or businesse ... : bankruptcy bankruptcy proceedings
color of law :: n. the appearance of an act being performed based ... xtort payoffs to forget the ticket.
common counts :: n. claims for debt alleged in a lawsuit (included ... so: cause of action complaint count
condemnation :: n. the legal process by which a governmental body ... eminent domain inverse condemnation
contributory negligence :: n. a doctrine of common law that if a person was i ... : comparative negligence negligence
creditor's claim :: n. a claim required to be filed in writing, in a p ... e also: claim in bankruptcy probate
damages :: n. the amount of money which a plaintiff (the pers ... liquidated damages special damages
dedication :: n. the giving of land by a private person or entit ... perty. See also: quiet title action
demand :: 1) v. to claim as a need, requirement or entitleme ... pay is made. See also: demand note
discrimination :: n. unequal treatment of persons, for a reason whic ... qual rights. See also: civil rights
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
emotional distress :: n. an increasingly popular basis for a claim of da ... ar value upon it. See also: damages
extinguishment :: n. the cancellation or destruction of a right, qui ... urther money or performance is due.
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
free and clear :: adj. referring to the ownership of real property u ... the title has no claim against it.
heir :: n. one who acquires property upon the death of ano ... y pretermitted heir succession will
hit and run :: n. the crime of a driver of a vehicle who is invol ... , and then walks back to the scene.
impound :: v. 1) to collect funds, in addition to installment ... cases. See also: forfeit forfeiture
in personam :: adj. (in purr-soh-nam) from Latin for "directed to ... here. See also: in rem jurisdiction
incapacity :: adj. 1) not being able to perform any gainful empl ... of the will. See also: incompetent
indispensable party :: n. a person or entity which must be included in a ... tion to join Olivia as a defendant.
insurance :: n. a contract (insurance policy) in which the insu ... t clause Workers' Compensation Acts
interest :: n. 1) any and all, partial or total right to prope ... nal property real property standing
inverse condemnation :: n. the taking of property by a government agency w ... e also: condemnation eminent domain
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
jury fees :: n. the rather minimal amount paid each day to juro ... ees as a court cost. See also: jury
just compensation :: n. 1) in general a fair and reasonable amount of m ... ation make one whole quantum meruit
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
leverage :: 1) n. the use of borrowed money to purchase real e ... e been created by risky leveraging.
levy :: 1) v. to seize (take) property upon a writ of exec ... heriff's sale tax writ of execution
liability :: n. one of the most significant words in the field ... bility joint tortfeasors negligence
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
lien :: n. any official claim or charge against property o ... ord's lien mechanic's lien mortgage
life estate :: n. the right to use or occupy real property for on ... hter, Sadie, will own the property.
lis pendens :: (lease pen-dense) n. Latin for "a suit pending," a ... ob can be penalized by court order.
loss of consortium :: n. the inability of one's spouse to have normal ma ... ation. See also: consortium damages
mechanic's lien :: n. the right of a craftsman, laborer, supplier, ar ... ll sue for the debt. See also: lien
mortgage :: n. a document in which the owner pledges his/her/i ... losure notice of default trust deed
negligence :: n. failure to exercise the care toward others whic ... gence per se res ipsa loquitur tort
nominal party :: n. a defendant or a plaintiff included in a lawsui ... ed. See also: necessary party party
notice :: n. 1) information, usually in writing in all legal ... Thirty-day notice three-day notice
nuisance :: n. the unreasonable, unwarranted and/or unlawful u ... evening). See also: public nuisance
offset :: 1) n. also called a "setoff," the deduction by a d ... e also: counterclaim defense setoff
option :: n. a right to purchase property or require another ... ng or upon expiration of the lease.
petition :: 1) n. a formal written request to a court for an o ... dent. See also: divorce motion writ
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
privileges and immunities :: n. the fundamental rights that people enjoy in fre ... t impinge on constitutional rights.
promissory note :: n. a written promise by a person (variously called ... lso: interest obligee obligor usury
property :: n. anything that is owned by a person or entity. P ... rty real property separate property
property damage :: n. injury to real or personal property through ano ... l value. See also: damages property
quiet title action :: n. a lawsuit to establish a party's title to real ... opposition. See also: notice title
real property :: n. 1) all land, structures, firmly attached and in ... onal property real estate reversion
record :: 1) v. (ree-cored) to put a document into the offic ... eeding race to the courthouse trial
restrictive covenant :: n. 1) an agreement included in a deed to real prop ... o: covenant that runs with the land
retraction :: n. 1) to withdraw any legal document in a lawsuit ... igation. See also: defamation libel
right :: 1) n. an entitlement to something, whether to conc ... e also: civil rights marital rights
setoff :: (offset) n. a claim by a defendant in a lawsuit th ... ee also: affirmative defense offset
speculative damages :: n. possible financial loss or expenses claimed by ... future customers. See also: damages
stakeholder :: n. a person having in his/her possession (holding) ... ment or agreement. See also: escrow
statute of limitations :: n. a law which sets the maximum period which one c ... ies. See also: demurrer laches toll
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
tort :: n. from French for "wrong," a civil wrong or wrong ... nce slander trespass wrongful death
tort claims act :: n. a federal or state act which, under certain con ... . See also: Federal Tort Claims Act
trespass :: n. entering another person's property without perm ... for an illegal purpose is a crime.
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.
waiver :: n. the intentional and voluntary giving up of some ... ssed on the record. See also: waive

Popular Law Searches

legal definition ministerial act :: n. an act, particularly of a governmental employee ... exercising any individual judgment.
chancery legal definition :: n. a court that can order acts performed. Today ch ... ts in most states. See also: equity
testamentary disposition legal definition :: n. how the terms of a will divide the testator's ( ... named beneficiaries. See also: will
contract of sufferance :: n. a "hold-over" tenancy after a lease has expired ... y tenancy at will unlawful detainer
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.
clean hands doctrine latin :: n. a rule of law that a person coming to court wit ... ices. See also: affirmative defense
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 - C

C.I.F. :: n. the total of cost, insurance and freight charge ... aid on goods purchased and shipped.
calendar :: 1) n. the list of cases to be called for trial bef ... clerk of the court calendars cases.
calendar call :: n. the hearing at which a case is set for trial. ... g at which a case is set for trial.
call :: n. the demand by a corporation that a stockholder ... assessment on shares already owned.
calumny :: n. the intentional and generally vicious false acc ... 's reputation. See also: defamation
cancel :: v. to cross out, annul, destroy, void and/or resci ... g, so that it cannot be used again.
cancellation :: cancel ... cancel
caning :: n. a punishment for crimes employed in certain Asi ... last century in the United States.
canon law :: n. laws and regulations over ecclesiastical (churc ... nduct with no religious connection.
cap :: n. slang for maximum, as the most interest that ca ... "adjustable rate" promissory note.
capital :: 1) n. from Latin for caput, meaning "head," the ba ... count capital assets stock in trade
capital account :: n. the record which lists all basic assets of a bu ... or the alleged value of good will.
capital assets :: n. equipment, property, and funds owned by a busin ... . See also: capital capital account
capital expenditure :: n. payment by a business for basic assets such as ... y intended to improve productivity.
capital gains :: n. the difference between the sales price and the ... so: basis delayed exchange exchange
capital investment :: capital expenditure ... capital expenditure
capital offense :: n. any criminal charge which is punishable by the ... . See also: bail capital punishment
capital punishment :: n. execution (death) for a capital offense. The U. ... or death. See also: capital offense
capital stock :: n. the original amount paid by investors into a co ... price. See also: corporation stock
capitalization :: n. 1) the act of counting anticipated earnings and ... for conversion into capital assets.