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
labor and materials :: (time and materials) n. what some builders or repa ... track of actual labor hours worked.
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
landlady :: n. female of landlord or owner of real property fr ... rents or leases. See also: landlord
landlocked :: adj. referring to a parcel of real property which ... which it was created (carved out).
landlord :: n. a person who owns real property and rents or le ... so: lease lessee lessor rent tenant
landlord and tenant :: n. the name for the area of law concerning renting ... ord lease lessee lessor rent tenant
landlord's lien :: n. the right of a landlord to sell abandoned perso ... to the ex-tenant and a public sale.
lapse :: 1) v. to fail to occur, particularly a gift made i ... eficiary devisee legatee trust will
larceny :: n. the crime of taking the goods of another person ... : grand larceny petty larceny theft
last antecedent rule :: n. a doctrine of interpretation (construction) of ... o trucks and not boats or tractors.
last clear chance :: n. a rule of law in determining responsibility for ... contributory negligence negligence
last will and testament :: n. a fancy and redundant way of saying "will." Law ... writing another one. See also: will
latent defect :: n. a hidden flaw, weakness or imperfection in an a ... warranty product liability warranty
lateral support :: n. the right of a land- owner to assurance that hi ... support problems are less dramatic.
law :: n. 1) any system of regulations to govern the cond ... um maritime law natural law statute
law and motion calendar :: n. a court calendar in which only motions and spec ... special legal arguments are heard.
law book :: n. any of numerous volumes dealing with law, inclu ... : common law law Shepardize statute
law of admiralty :: n. statutes, customs and treaties dealing with act ... w. See also: Jones Act maritime law
law of the case :: n. once a judge has decided a legal question durin ... he ruling is the "law of the case."
law of the land :: n. a slang term for existing laws. ... n. a slang term for existing laws.
lawsuit :: n. a common term for a legal action by one person ... See also: case cause of action suit
lay a foundation :: v. in evidence, to provide to the judge the qualif ... ce and training. See also: evidence
leading :: 1) v. short for "leading the witness," in which th ... tness leading the witness objection
leading question :: n. a question asked of a witness by an attorney du ... e also: cross-examination objection
leading the witness :: n. asking a question during a trial or deposition ... n hostile witness leading objection
lease :: 1) n. a written agreement in which the owner of pr ... triple net lease unlawful detainer
leasehold :: n. the real estate which is the subject of a lease ... sehold. See also: condominium lease
legacy :: n. a gift of personal property or money to a benef ... o: beneficiary bequest legatee will
legal :: adj., adv. according to law, not in violation of l ... law or anything related to the law.
legal action :: n. any lawsuit, petition or prosecution. ... y lawsuit, petition or prosecution.
legal advertising :: n. 1) notices of probate sales and other documents ... quality of the lawyers advertising.
legal age :: n. the age at which a person is responsible for hi ... so: infancy juvenile court minority
legal aid society :: n. an organization formed to assist persons who ha ... bar association. See also: pro bono
legal duty :: n. the responsibility to others to act according t ... al injuries. See also: duty of care
legal fiction :: n. a presumption of fact assumed by a court for co ... he law, and not law from fictions."
legal separation :: n. a court-decreed right to live apart, with the r ... n is rarely used. See also: divorce
legal services :: n. the work performed by a lawyer for a client. ... performed by a lawyer for a client.
legal tender :: n. all money issued by the government. ... all money issued by the government.
legalese :: n. slang for the sometimes arcane, convoluted and ... rgon of lawyers and legal scholars.
legatee :: n. a person or organization receiving a gift of an ... eficiary devise devisee legacy will
legitimate :: adj., adv1) legal, proper, real. 2) referring to a ... 3) v. to make proper and/or legal.
lemon law :: n. statutes adopted in some states to make it easi ... still trying" to make it run right.
lessee :: n. the person renting property under a written lea ... lord and tenant lease lessor tenant
lesser crime :: n. See also: lesser-included offense ... . See also: lesser-included offense
lesser-included offense :: n. in criminal law, a crime which is proved by the ... g jail time. See also: plea bargain
lessor :: n. the owner of real property who rents it to a le ... lord and tenant lease lessee tenant
let :: v. 1) to allow or permit. This is distinguished fr ... rson. See also: lease rent sublease
letter of credit :: n. a document issued by a bank guaranteeing to pro ... ong-distance business transactions.
letters :: n. shorthand for letters testamentary or letters o ... administration letters testamentary
letters of administration :: n. a document issued by the court clerk which stat ... estate. See also: executor probate
letters testamentary :: n. a document issued by the court clerk which stat ... te. See also: administrator probate
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
lewd and lascivious :: adj., adv. references to conduct which includes pe ... t exposure pornography prostitution
liability :: n. one of the most significant words in the field ... bility joint tortfeasors negligence
liable :: adj. responsible or obligated. Thus, a person or e ... al prosecution. See also: liability
libel :: 1) n. to publish in print (including pictures), wr ... libel per se public figure slander
libel per se :: n. broadcast or written publication of a false sta ... See also: defamation libel slander
liberty :: n. freedom from restraint and the power to follow ... the benefit of the general public.
license :: 1) n. governmental permission to perform a particu ... eement. See also: licensee licensor
licensee :: n. a person given a license by the government or u ... reement. See also: license licensor
licensor :: n. a person who gives another a license, particula ... product. See also: license licensee
lie detector test :: n. a popular name for a polygraph which tests the ... be referred to. See also: polygraph
lien :: n. any official claim or charge against property o ... ord's lien mechanic's lien mortgage
lienor :: n. a person who holds a lien on another's property ... s property or funds. See also: lien
life estate :: n. the right to use or occupy real property for on ... hter, Sadie, will own the property.
life without possibility of parole :: n. a sentence sometimes given for particularly vic ... or may someday reduce the sentence.
limitation of actions :: n. the period of time in which a person has to fil ... e. See also: statute of limitations
limited jurisdiction :: n. courts' authority over certain types of cases s ... value. See also: court jurisdiction
limited liability :: n. the maximum amount a person participating in a ... ted damages partnership shareholder
limited partnership :: n. a special type of partnership which is very com ... mited liability partner partnership
lineal descendant :: n. a person who is in direct line to an ancestor, ... See also: descent and distribution
lineup :: n. a law enforcement method used in an attempt to ... entification is precarious at best.
liquidate :: v. to sell the assets of a business, paying bills ... other investors. See also: wind up
liquidated damages :: n. an amount of money agreed upon by both parties ... airness. See also: contract damages
lis pendens :: (lease pen-dense) n. Latin for "a suit pending," a ... ob can be penalized by court order.
literary property :: n. the writings of an author which entitles him/he ... as copyrighted. See also: copyright
litigant :: n. any party to a lawsuit. This means plaintiff, d ... ant, but not a witness or attorney.
litigation :: n. any lawsuit or other resort to the courts to de ... termine a legal question or matter.
litigious :: adj. referring to a person who constantly brings o ... e called "professional plaintiffs."
living trust :: n. sometimes called an inter vivos (Latin for "wit ... thrift clause trust trustee trustor
living will :: n. also called "a durable power of attorney," it i ... upport. See also: power of attorney
locus :: (low-cuss) n. Latin for "place," it means "place w ... place which" this or that occurred.
loiter :: v. to linger or hang around in a public place or b ... kenness or being a public nuisance.
long cause :: n. a lawsuit in which it is estimated that a trial ... dar call court calendar short cause
long-arm statute :: n. law which gives a local state court jurisdictio ... rt jurisdiction over the defendant.
loss :: n. 1) the value placed on injury or damages due to ... t and the income. See also: damages
loss of bargain :: n. the inability to complete a sale or other busin ... ned in a lawsuit. See also: damages
loss of consortium :: n. the inability of one's spouse to have normal ma ... ation. See also: consortium damages
loss of use :: n. the inability to use an automobile, premises or ... ding or premises. See also: damages
lower court :: n. 1) any court of lesser rank, such as municipal ... ruled Defendant had no basis for:."