Dictionary of Law
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

search :: legal definition


Search - v. 1) to examine another's premises (including a vehicle) to look for evidence of criminal activity. It is unconstitutional under the 4th and 14th Amendments for law enforcement officers to conduct a search without a "search warrant" issued by a judge or without facts which give the officer "probable cause" to believe evidence of a specific crime is on the premises and there is not enough time to obtain a search warrant. 2) to trace the records of ownership of real property in what is commonly called a "title search."

See also: abstract chain of title probable cause search and seizure search warrant and Related Law Terms ↓


Related Law Terms

arrest :: v. 1) to take or hold a suspected criminal with le ... anda warning probable cause warrant
arrest warrant :: n. a judge's order to law enforcement officers to ... ommitted a crime. See also: warrant
Bill of Rights :: n. the first ten amendments to the federal Constit ... ved to the states or to the people.
dismiss :: v. the ruling by a judge that all or a portion (on ... nst that party. See also: dismissal
exclusionary rule :: n. the rule that evidence secured by illegal means ... e poisonous tree motion to suppress
false arrest :: n. physically detaining someone without the legal ... sment. See also: false imprisonment
indictment :: n. a charge of a felony (serious crime) voted by a ... ictable offense preliminary hearing
plain view doctrine :: n. the rule that a law enforcement officer may mak ... : search and seizure search warrant
probable cause :: n. sufficient reason based upon known facts to bel ... of Rights search search and seizure
quitclaim deed :: n. a real property deed which transfers (conveys) ... also: convey deed grant deed title
record :: 1) v. (ree-cored) to put a document into the offic ... eeding race to the courthouse trial
search and seizure :: n. examination of a person's premises (residence, ... robable cause search search warrant
search warrant :: n. a written order by a judge which permits a law ... ble cause search search and seizure
seizure :: n. the taking by law enforcement officers of poten ... e search and seizure search warrant
stop and frisk :: n. a law enforcement officer's search for a weapon ... h search and seizure search warrant
tainted evidence :: n. in a criminal trial, information which has been ... e search and seizure search warrant
title search :: n. the examination of county records for the prope ... e escrow lien title title insurance
unreasonable search and seizure :: n. search of an individual or his/her premises (in ... e probable cause search and seizure
warrant :: 1) n. an order (writ) of a court which directs a l ... e search and seizure search warrant
wiretap :: n. using an electronic device to listen in on tele ... invasion of privacy probable cause

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 - S

said :: adj. a reference back to a thing that was previous ... automobile in a negligent manner."
sale :: n. transfer of something (and title to it) in retu ... contract forced sale sheriff's sale
salvage :: 1) v. to save goods. 2) n. payment to a person or ... which saves cargo from a shipwreck.
sanction :: n. 1) a financial penalty imposed by a judge on a ... ction." See also: contempt of court
satisfaction :: n. receiving payment or performance of what is due ... n contract satisfaction of judgment
satisfaction of judgment :: n. a document signed by a judgment creditor (the p ... ord. See also: abstract of judgment
satisfaction of mortgage :: n. a document signed by a lender acknowledging tha ... id off the debt. See also: mortgage
save harmless :: v. 1) also called hold harmless, to indemnify (pro ... . See also: hold harmless indemnify
savings and loan :: n. a banking and lending institution, chartered ei ... vings into the home finance market.
scienter :: n. Latin for "having knowledge." In criminal law, ... ents were lies and thus fraudulent.
scintilla :: n. Latin for "spark." Scintilla is commonly used i ... ark) upon which to base a judgment.
scope of employment :: n. actions of an employee which further the busine ... ter and servant respondeat superior
scrivener :: n. a person who writes a document for another, usu ... r practicing law without a license.
seal :: n. a device which creates an impression upon paper ... e "sealed," but that is rare today.
sealed verdict :: n. the decision of a jury when there is a delay in ... reconvenes. See also: jury verdict
sealing of records :: n. trial records and decisions which a judge order ... eep the terms from public scrutiny.
search :: v. 1) to examine another's premises (including a v ... e search and seizure search warrant
search and seizure :: n. examination of a person's premises (residence, ... robable cause search search warrant
search warrant :: n. a written order by a judge which permits a law ... ble cause search search and seizure
second degree murder :: n. a non-premeditated killing, resulting from an a ... t degree murder manslaughter murder