Dictionary of Law
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ward :: legal definition


Ward - n. 1) a person (usually a minor) who has a guardian appointed by the court to care for and take responsibility for that person. A governmental agency may take temporary custody of a minor for his/her protection and care if the child is suffering from parental neglect or abuse, or has been in trouble with the law. Such a child is a "ward of the court" (if the custody is court-ordered) or a "ward of the state." 2) a political division of a city, much like a council district.

See also: guardian and Related Law Terms ↓


Related Law Terms

ad litem :: adj. legal Latin meaning "for the purposes of the ... of age. See also: guardian ad litem
alimony :: n. support paid by one ex-spouse to the other as o ... ild support divorce spousal support
child :: n. 1) a person's natural offspring. 2) a person 14 ... almost all states. See also: minor
child custody :: n. a court's determination of which parent, relati ... pport custody divorce joint custody
child support :: n. court-ordered funds to be paid by one parent to ... ild custody divorce spousal support
competent :: adj. 1) in general, able to act in the circumstanc ... all bases. See also: evidence will
conservator :: n. a guardian and protector appointed by a judge t ... ies. See also: conservatee guardian
divorce :: 1) n. the termination of a marriage by legal actio ... y separate property spousal support
emancipation :: n. freeing a minor child from the control of paren ... vorced parent to pay child support.
guardian :: n. a person who has been appointed by a judge to t ... torship. See also: conservator ward
guardian ad litem :: n. a person appointed by the court only to take le ... awsuit is filed. See also: ad litem
habeas corpus :: (hay-bee-us core-puss) n. Latin for "you have the ... nality of a state court conviction.
infancy :: n. although the popular use of the word means the ... nority. See also: ad litem minority
joint custody :: n. in divorce actions, a decision by the court (of ... em. See also: child custody divorce
joint tenancy :: n. a crucial relationship in the ownership of real ... ty property tenancy in common title
juvenile court :: n. a special court or department of a trial court ... See also: court juvenile delinquent
parens patriae :: (paa-rens pat-tree-eye) n. Latin for "father of hi ... pport custody divorce guardian ward
will :: n. a written document which leaves the estate of t ... will and testament probate testator

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 - W

waive :: v. to voluntarily give up something, including not ... the other state). See also: waiver
waiver :: n. the intentional and voluntary giving up of some ... ssed on the record. See also: waive
wanton :: adj. 1) grossly negligent to the extent of being r ... sexually immoral and unrestrained.
ward :: n. 1) a person (usually a minor) who has a guardia ... ouncil district. See also: guardian
warrant :: 1) n. an order (writ) of a court which directs a l ... e search and seizure search warrant
warranty :: n. a written statement of good quality of merchand ... of the contract. See also: warrant
warranty deed :: n. a deed to real property which guarantees that t ... : grant deed quitclaim deed warrant
waste :: n. 1) any damage to real property by a tenant whic ... ch may include poisonous effluents.
watered stock :: n. shares of stock of a corporation which have bee ... . See also: corporation share stock
weight of evidence :: n. the strength, value and believability of eviden ... dence preponderance of the evidence
wet reckless :: n. a plea to a charge of reckless driving which wa ... conviction. See also: plea bargain
whiplash :: n. a common neck and/or back injury suffered in au ... r damages due to negligent driving.
white collar crime :: n. a generic term for crimes involving commercial ... committed by "blue collar" workers.
widow :: n. a woman whose husband died while she was marrie ... nefits traceable to the ex-husband.
widower :: n. a man whose wife died while he was married to h ... d to her and who has not remarried.
widow's election :: n. the choice a widow makes between accepting what ... nt and distribution succession will
will :: n. a written document which leaves the estate of t ... will and testament probate testator
will contest :: n. a lawsuit challenging the validity of a will an ... so: in terrorem clause probate will
willful :: adj. referring to acts which are intentional, cons ... r was willful." See also: willfully
willfully :: adv. referring to doing something intentionally, p ... on the property." See also: willful