Dictionary of Law
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personal services :: legal definition


Personal services - n. in contract law, the talents of a person which are unusual, special or unique and cannot be performed exactly the same by another. These can include the talents of an artist, an actor, a writer or professional services. The value of personal services is greater than general labor, so woodcarving is personal service and carpentry is not. Therefore, if an actor contracts to perform in a movie and fails to show, he/she will be liable for damages based on the difficulty to replace him. An artist who contracts to paint a picture cannot send a substitute, since he/she was retained for his/her unique ability and product.


Related Law Terms

acknowledgment :: n. the section at the end of a document where a no ... me leases and various other papers.
after-acquired property :: n. 1) personal or real property acquired by a debt ... lso: bankruptcy secured transaction
anticipatory breach :: n. when a party to a contract repudiates (reneges ... perform. See also: breach contract
apparent authority :: n. the appearance of being the agent of another (e ... e also: agency ostensible authority
assign :: 1) v. to transfer to another person any asset such ... en shows up in contracts and wills.
attorney's fee :: n. the payment for legal services. It can take sev ... ees in the particular type of case.
breach :: 1) n. literally, a break. A breach may be a failur ... breach of trust breach of warranty
breach of contract :: n. failing to perform any term of a contract, writ ... breach breach specific performance
care :: n. in law, to be attentive, prudent and vigilant. ... she is involved. See also: careless
conflict of interest :: n. a situation in which a person has a duty to mor ... a position adverse to the customer.
consideration :: n. 1) payment or money. 2) a vital element in the ... t of a promise). See also: contract
constructive notice :: n. a fiction that a person got notice even though ... personally. See also: constructive
contract :: 1) n. an agreement with specific terms between two ... n oral contract unilateral contract
corporation :: n. an organization formed with state governmental ... ation public corporation securities
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.
grace period :: n. a time stated in a contract in which a late pay ... the contract, i.e. your insurance.
guarantee :: 1) v. to pledge or agree to be responsible for ano ... as some defect. See also: guarantor
hearsay rule :: n. the basic rule that testimony or documents whic ... interest dying declaration hearsay
illusory promise :: n. an agreement to do something that is so indefin ... he may have thought was a contract.
incriminate :: v. to make a statement in which one admits that he ... d to information which would be so.
independent contractor :: n. a person or business which performs services fo ... ue independence. See also: employee
indictment :: n. a charge of a felony (serious crime) voted by a ... ictable offense preliminary hearing
information and belief :: n. a phrase often used in legal pleadings (complai ... nswer complaint declaration perjury
installment contract :: n. an agreement in which payments of money, delive ... n contract failure of consideration
jump bail :: v. to fail to appear for a court appearance after ... also: bail bail bond bail bondsman
legal aid society :: n. an organization formed to assist persons who ha ... bar association. See also: pro bono
liability :: n. one of the most significant words in the field ... bility joint tortfeasors negligence
Miranda warning :: n. the requirement, also called the Miranda rule, ... me such a suspect? See also: rights
notice :: n. 1) information, usually in writing in all legal ... Thirty-day notice three-day notice
option :: n. a right to purchase property or require another ... ng or upon expiration of the lease.
party :: n. 1) one of the participants in a lawsuit or othe ... y real party in interest respondent
performance :: n. fulfillment of one's obligations required by co ... nce. See also: specific performance
personal service :: n. delivering a summons, complaint, notice to quit ... process substituted service summons
process :: n. in law, the legal means by which a person is re ... service of process subpena summons
promise :: 1) n. a firm agreement to perform an act, refrain ... so: consideration contract covenant
promissory estoppel :: n. a false statement treated as a promise by a cou ... lue of his work. See also: estoppel
quantum meruit :: : (kwahn-tuhm mare-ooh-it) n. Latin for "as much a ... uit by implying a contract existed.
qui tam action :: : (kwee tam) n. from Latin for "who as well," a la ... technical violations and/or errors.
reasonable reliance :: n. particularly in contracts, what a prudent perso ... the following:." See also: contract
service :: n. 1) paid work by another person, either by contr ... ersonal services service of process
service of process :: n. the delivery of copies of legal documents such ... by publication substituted service
sound mind and memory :: n. having an understanding of one's actions and re ... ee also: competent incompetent will
specific performance :: n. the right of a party to a contract to demand th ... artwork. See also: contract prayer
statute of limitations :: n. a law which sets the maximum period which one c ... ies. See also: demurrer laches toll
substantial performance :: n. in the law of contracts, fulfillment of the obl ... also: contract specific performance
substituted service :: n. accomplishing service (delivery) of legal docum ... ee also: service service of process
surety :: n. a guarantor of payment or performance if anothe ... or entity. See also: bond guarantor
unconscionable :: adj. referring to a contract or bargain which is s ... ee also: adhesion contract contract
unilateral contract :: n. an agreement to pay in exchange for performance ... consideration contract performance

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 - P

paid into court :: adj. referring to money deposited with the clerk o ... differences. See also: interpleader
pain and suffering :: n. the physical and mental distress suffered from ... l damages special damages suffering
palimony :: n. a substitute for alimony in cases in which the ... the relationship. See also: alimony
pander :: 1) v. to solicit customers for a prostitute. 2) n. ... ons or favors. See also: prostitute
panderer :: n. 1) a person who panders or solicits for a prost ... special interests. See also: pander
panel :: n. the list of people selected to appear for jury ... or jury duty. See also: jury venire
paper hanger :: n. slang for a person who criminally writes and ca ... ey in them. See also: forgery fraud
par :: n. 1) an equal level. 2) the face value of a stock ... common stock preferred stock stock
paralegal :: n. a non-lawyer who performs routine tasks requiri ... h less than that for the attorneys.
paramount title :: n. a right to real property which prevails over an ... n's claim of title. See also: title
parcel :: n. a defined piece of real estate, usually resulti ... See also: real estate real property
pardon :: 1) v. to use the executive power of a Governor or ... also: amnesty commutation reprieve
parens patriae :: (paa-rens pat-tree-eye) n. Latin for "father of hi ... pport custody divorce guardian ward
parent :: n. the lawful and natural father or mother of a pe ... natural parent. See also: adoption
parental neglect :: n. a crime consisting of acts or omissions of a pa ... usive or sexually predatory person.
pari delicto :: adj. equal fault. See also: in pari delicto ... al fault. See also: in pari delicto
parish :: n. 1) a geographic area served by a church (partic ... overnmental equivalent of a county.
parody :: n. the humorous use of an existing song, play, or ... l significance. See also: copyright
parol :: adj. oral. See also: parol evidence rule ... oral. See also: parol evidence rule
parol evidence rule :: n. if there is evidence in writing (such as a sign ... or contradict the written document.