Dictionary of Law
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independent contractor :: legal definition


Independent contractor - n. a person or business which performs services for another person or entity under a contract between them, with the terms spelled out such as duties, pay, the amount and type of work and other matters. An independent contractor is distinguished from an employee, who works regularly for an employer. The exact nature of the independent contractor's relationship with the party hiring him/her/it has become vital since an independent contractor pays his/her/its own Social Security, income taxes without payroll deduction, has no retirement or health plan rights, and often is not entitled to worker's compensation coverage. Public agencies, particularly the Internal Revenue Service, look hard at independent contractor agreements when it appears the contractor is much like an employee. An independent contractor must be able to determine when and where work is performed, be able to work for others, provide own equipment and other factors which are indicative of true independence.

See also: employee and Related Law Terms ↓


Related Law Terms

account stated :: n. a statement between a creditor or the person to ... ending on the state. See also: debt
agency :: n. the relationship of a person (called the agent) ... ondeat superior scope of employment
apparent authority :: n. the appearance of being the agent of another (e ... e also: agency ostensible authority
attorney's fee :: n. the payment for legal services. It can take sev ... ees in the particular type of case.
bankruptcy :: n. a federal system of statutes and courts which p ... y proceedings trustee in bankruptcy
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
contractor :: n. 1) a person or entity that enters into a contra ... actor mechanic's lien subcontractor
copyright :: 1) n. the exclusive right of the author or creator ... plagiarism public domain trademark
corporation :: n. an organization formed with state governmental ... ation public corporation securities
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
guest :: n. 1) in general, a person paying to stay in a hot ... ce. See also: guest statute invitee
hearsay rule :: n. the basic rule that testimony or documents whic ... interest dying declaration hearsay
indenture :: n. a type of real property deed in which two parti ... bind a person to work for another.
insolvency :: n. 1) the condition of having more debts (liabilit ... the property. See also: bankruptcy
legal aid society :: n. an organization formed to assist persons who ha ... bar association. See also: pro bono
mechanic's lien :: n. the right of a craftsman, laborer, supplier, ar ... ll sue for the debt. See also: lien
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.
personal service :: n. delivering a summons, complaint, notice to quit ... process substituted service summons
personal services :: n. in contract law, the talents of a person which ... his/her unique ability and product.
process :: n. in law, the legal means by which a person is re ... service of process subpena summons
quantum meruit :: : (kwahn-tuhm mare-ooh-it) n. Latin for "as much a ... uit by implying a contract existed.
retainer :: n. the advance payment to an attorney for services ... e stuck with extensive unpaid fees.
servant :: n. an employee of an employer, technically one who ... ndent contractor master and servant
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
subcontractor :: n. a person or business which has a contract (as a ... ependent contractor mechanic's lien
subrogation :: n. assuming the legal rights of a person for whom ... also: negligence subrogee subrogor
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
three-day notice :: n. a notice to pay delinquent rent or quit (leave ... nd tenant service unlawful detainer
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 - I

i.e. :: prep. abbreviation for id est, which is Latin for ... "e.g.," which means "for example."
illegal :: 1) adj. in violation of statute, regulation or ord ... . See also: alien illegal immigrant
illegal immigrant :: n. an alien (non-citizen) who has entered the Unit ... ion date of a visa. See also: alien
illusory promise :: n. an agreement to do something that is so indefin ... he may have thought was a contract.
immaterial :: adj. a commonly heard objection to introducing evi ... ons. See also: irrelevant objection
immediately :: adv. 1) at once. 2) in orders of the court or in c ... oon as can be done" without excuse.
immunity :: n. exemption from penalties, payments or legal req ... ws. See also: governmental immunity
impanel :: v. to select and install a jury. See also: impanel ... l a jury. See also: impaneling jury
impaneling :: n. the act of selecting a jury from the list of po ... e juror jury panel venire voir dire
impeach :: v. 1) to discredit the testimony of a witness by p ... ve been found guilty by the Senate.
impeachment :: n. 1) discrediting a witness by showing that he/sh ... the trial itself. See also: impeach
impleader :: n. a procedural device before trial in which a par ... than having two suits in a series.
implied :: adj., adv. referring to circumstances, conduct or ... nt implied consent implied warranty
implied consent :: n. consent when surrounding circumstances exist wh ... aybe" or "later." See also: implied
implied contract :: n. an agreement which is found to exist based on t ... : contract express contract implied
implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing :: n. a general assumption of the law of contracts, t ... -long employment. See also: implied
implied warranty :: n. an assumption at law that products are "merchan ... er. See also: caveat emptor implied
impossibility :: n. when an act cannot be performed due to nature, ... cel) a contract. See also: contract
impotence :: n. the male's inability to copulate. Impotence can ... eans inability to produce children.
impound :: v. 1) to collect funds, in addition to installment ... cases. See also: forfeit forfeiture