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Dictionary of Law |
acceptance of service :: legal definitionAcceptance of service - n. agreement by a defendant (or his/her attorney) in a legal action to accept a complaint or other petition (like divorce papers) without having the sheriff or process server show up at the door. The agreement of "acceptance of service" must be in writing or there is no proof that it happened. In most jurisdictions there is a form entitled "receipt and acknowledgment of acceptance of service" or similar language which must be signed, dated and sent back to the attorney who sent the complaint or petition. Attorneys must be careful that they have legal authority from a client to act on his/her behalf, because a client may deny later that he/she gave authority to accept service. See also: service and Related Law Terms ↓ Related Law Termsadverse witness :: n. a witness in a trial who is found by the judge ... r the opposition. See also: witnessagent for acceptance of service :: n. states require that a corporation name an actua ... corporations. See also: corporation American Bar Association :: n. the largest organization of American lawyers, w ... go, IL 60611; tel.: (312) 988-5522. appearance :: n. the act of a party or an attorney showing up in ... neral appearance special appearance arbitrator :: n. one who conducts an arbitration, and serves as ... he other two. See also: arbitration arrest :: v. 1) to take or hold a suspected criminal with le ... anda warning probable cause warrant attorney :: n. 1) an agent or someone authorized to act for an ... ialize. See also: court reciprocity Attorney General :: n. in each state and the federal government the hi ... izenry. See also: Solicitor General attorney-client privilege :: n. the requirement that an attorney may not reveal ... ivileged communication work product attorney's fee :: n. the payment for legal services. It can take sev ... ees in the particular type of case. authorities :: n. 1) previous decisions by courts of appeal which ... also: brief cite decision precedent bankruptcy :: n. a federal system of statutes and courts which p ... y proceedings trustee in bankruptcy benefit of counsel :: n. having the opportunity to have an attorney and ... attorney is the person's own fault. complaint :: n. the first document filed with the court (actual ... g prayer service of process summons conflict of interest :: n. a situation in which a person has a duty to mor ... a position adverse to the customer. constructive notice :: n. a fiction that a person got notice even though ... personally. See also: constructive contingent fee :: n. a fee to a lawyer which will be due and payable ... epend on the outcome are unethical. corporation :: n. an organization formed with state governmental ... ation public corporation securities cross-complaint :: n. after a complaint has been filed against a defe ... g prayer service of process summons demurrer :: n. (dee-muhr-ur) a written response to a complaint ... demurrer. See also: motion pleading disbar :: v. to remove an attorney from the list of practici ... legal ethics. (See moral turpitude disbarment :: n. the ultimate discipline of an attorney, which i ... ation and/or cure. See also: disbar excusable neglect :: n. a legitimate excuse for the failure of a party ... See also: default default judgment file :: 1) v. to deposit with the clerk of the court a wri ... rrespondence and notes on the case. fraud :: n. the intentional use of deceit, a trick or some ... audulent conveyance intrinsic fraud hostile witness :: n. technically an "adverse witness" in a trial who ... so: adverse witness leading witness in haec verba :: (in hike verb-ah)prep. Latin for "in these words," ... ading. See also: complaint pleading informed consent :: n. agreement to do something or to allow something ... . See also: consent Miranda warning legal advertising :: n. 1) notices of probate sales and other documents ... quality of the lawyers advertising. legal aid society :: n. an organization formed to assist persons who ha ... bar association. See also: pro bono malpractice :: n. An act or continuing conduct of a professional ... eed. See also: errors and omissions motion for a summary judgment :: n. a written request for a judgment in the moving ... strict procedures. See also: motion notice :: n. 1) information, usually in writing in all legal ... Thirty-day notice three-day notice object :: 1) v. to ask the court not to allow a particular q ... he contract..." See also: objection of counsel :: adj. reference to an attorney who is not actively ... quiring his/her full-time presence. pleading :: n. 1) every legal document filed in a lawsuit, pet ... nswer complaint demurrer plea plead privileged communication :: n. statements and conversations made under circums ... See also: attorney-client privilege process :: n. in law, the legal means by which a person is re ... service of process subpena summons retainer :: n. the advance payment to an attorney for services ... e stuck with extensive unpaid fees. separation :: n. married persons living apart, either informally ... gal separation separation agreement separation agreement :: n. an agreement between two married people who hav ... divorce legal separation separation service :: n. 1) paid work by another person, either by contr ... ersonal services service of process service by mail :: n. mailing legal pleadings to opposing attorneys o ... attorney by mail. See also: service service of process :: n. the delivery of copies of legal documents such ... by publication substituted service speaking demurrer :: n. an attempt to introduce evidence during a heari ... the operation." See also: demurrer special appearance :: n. the representation by an attorney of a person i ... anged. See also: general appearance summary adjudication of issues :: n. a court order ruling that certain factual issue ... is made. See also: summary judgment summons :: n. a document issued by the court at the time a la ... use service service of process writ trial :: n. the examination of facts and law presided over ... at a hearing held at a later time. vexatious litigation :: n. filing a lawsuit with the knowledge that it has ... lous malicious prosecution sanction Popular Law Searcheslegal 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 - Aa 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 |