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Dictionary of Law |
marriage :: legal definitionMarriage - n. the joining of a male and female in matrimony by a person qualified by law to perform the ceremony (a minister, priest, judge, justice of the peace or some similar official), after having obtained a valid marriage license (which requires a blood test for venereal disease in about a third of the states and a waiting period from one to five days in several). The standard age for marriage without parental consent is 18 except for Georgia and Wyoming where it is 16, Rhode Island where women can marry at 16, and Mississippi in which it is 17 for boys and 15 for girls. More than half the states allow marriages at lesser ages with parental consent, going as low as 14 for both sexes in Alabama, Texas and Utah. Marriages in which the age requirements are not met can be annulled. Fourteen states recognize so-called "common law marriages" which establish a legal marriage for people who have lived together by agreement as husband and wife for a lengthy period of time without legal formalities. Related Law Termsad litem :: adj. legal Latin meaning "for the purposes of the ... of age. See also: guardian ad litemadministrative law :: n. the procedures created by administrative agenci ... judge Administrative Procedure Act administrator :: n. the person appointed by the court to handle the ... e also: administer executor probate adoption :: n. the taking of a child into one's family, creati ... the child are met. See also: adopt adultery :: n. consensual sexual relations when one of the par ... s and grist for scandal newspapers. adverse possession :: n. a means to acquire title to land through obviou ... o: possession prescriptive easement advisory opinion :: n. an opinion stated by a judge or a court upon th ... o: actual controversy friendly suit American Bar Association :: n. the largest organization of American lawyers, w ... go, IL 60611; tel.: (312) 988-5522. antitrust laws :: n. acts adopted by Congress to outlaw or restrict ... so: price fixing restraint of trade appeal :: 1) v. to ask a higher court to reverse the decisio ... ng, as in "he has filed an appeal." arrest :: v. 1) to take or hold a suspected criminal with le ... anda warning probable cause warrant articles of incorporation :: n. the basic charter of a corporation which spells ... year's taxes. See also: corporation 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. bankruptcy :: n. a federal system of statutes and courts which p ... y proceedings trustee in bankruptcy bar examination :: n. the examination given in each state by either t ... n that district. See also: attorney Bill of Rights :: n. the first ten amendments to the federal Constit ... ved to the states or to the people. brief :: 1) n. a written legal argument, usually in a forma ... another person. See also: precedent carnal knowledge :: n. from Latin carnalis for "fleshly:" sexual inter ... tate. See also: rape statutory rape 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 citation :: n. 1) a notice to appear in court due to the proba ... se is not in point." See also: cite civil :: adj. 1) that part of the law that encompasses busi ... also: civil liberties civil rights civil law :: n. 1) a body of laws and legal concepts which come ... generic term for non-criminal law. common law :: n. the traditional unwritten law of England, based ... plied without reference to statute. common-law marriage :: n. an agreement between a man and woman to live to ... a marriage. See also: cohabitation community property :: n. property and profits received by a husband and ... and distribution separate property complaint :: n. the first document filed with the court (actual ... g prayer service of process summons conflict of law :: n. a situation in which both state and federal law ... y arose. See also: forum preemption constitutional rights :: n. rights given or reserved to the people by the U ... e also: Bill of Rights constitution consumer protection laws :: n. almost all states and the federal government ha ... rranty product liability securities controlling law :: n. the laws of the state which will be relied upon ... will be that of a particular state. 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 demurrer :: n. (dee-muhr-ur) a written response to a complaint ... demurrer. See also: motion pleading descent :: n. the rules of inheritance established by law in ... on inheritance intestate succession discrimination :: n. unequal treatment of persons, for a reason whic ... qual rights. See also: civil rights divorce :: 1) n. the termination of a marriage by legal actio ... y separate property spousal support due process of law :: n. a fundamental principle of fairness in all lega ... procedural and substantive rights. equal opportunity :: 1) n. a right supposedly guaranteed by both federa ... be so. See also: affirmative action equal protection of the law :: n. the right of all persons to have the same acces ... laws." See also: due process of law equity :: n. 1) a venerable group of rights and procedures t ... ry enjoin equitable injunction writ fair trade laws :: n. state laws which permit manufacturers or produc ... state constitutions in many states. grace period :: n. a time stated in a contract in which a late pay ... the contract, i.e. your insurance. grandfather clause :: n. 1) a clause in a statute or zoning ordinance (p ... Such laws are now unconstitutional. guest statute :: n. a state law which sets standards of care by the ... sked to be let out. See also: guest in loco parentis :: prep. (in loh-coh pah-rent-iss) Latin for "instead ... 5, if and when he needs legal help. incest :: n. sexual intercourse between close blood relative ... ily genes carrying such weaknesses. incorporate :: v. 1) to obtain an official charter or articles of ... te by reference incorporation stock interlocutory decree :: n. a court judgment which is temporary and not int ... ppeared to waste the parties' time. joint custody :: n. in divorce actions, a decision by the court (of ... em. See also: child custody divorce judge :: 1) n. an official with the authority and responsib ... ice justice of the peace magistrate jurisdiction :: n. the authority given by law to a court to try ca ... Superior Court Supreme Court venue jury :: n. one of the remarkable innovations of the Englis ... hallenge sequester venire voir dire juvenile delinquent :: n. a person who is under age (usually below 18), w ... low as 14. See also: juvenile court law :: n. 1) any system of regulations to govern the cond ... um maritime law natural law statute law book :: n. any of numerous volumes dealing with law, inclu ... : common law law Shepardize statute 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 limited partnership :: n. a special type of partnership which is very com ... mited liability partner partnership mandamus :: (man-dame-us) n. Latin for "we order," a writ (mor ... mandamus. See also: writ of mandate maxims :: n. a collection of legal truisms which are used as ... e and the ordinary habits of life." minor :: n. someone under legal age, which is generally 18, ... rages. See also: legal age maturity mortgage :: n. a document in which the owner pledges his/her/i ... losure notice of default trust deed murder :: n. the killing of a human being by a sane person, ... premeditation second degree murder no fault insurance :: n: a type of automobile insurance required of car ... ling lawsuits. See also: negligence non-profit corporation :: n. an organization incorporated under state laws a ... harity corporation cy pres doctrine occupy the field :: v. to preempt (monopolize) an area of statutory la ... ertain topics. See also: preemption option :: n. a right to purchase property or require another ... ng or upon expiration of the lease. paralegal :: n. a non-lawyer who performs routine tasks requiri ... h less than that for the attorneys. preemption :: n. the rule of law that if the federal government ... cs control may parallel each other. procedure :: n. the methods and mechanics of the legal process. ... cases are tried and judgments made. process :: n. in law, the legal means by which a person is re ... service of process subpena summons prospectus :: n. a detailed statement by a corporation required ... rporation limited partnership stock rape :: 1) n. the crime of sexual intercourse (with actual ... See also: date rape statutory rape regulations :: n. rules and administrative codes issued by govern ... es usually have similar procedures. Restatement of the Law :: n. a series of detailed statements of the basic la ... tracts, property, torts and trusts. retroactive :: adj. referring to a court's decision or a statute ... ospective." See also: ex post facto security deposit :: n. a payment required by a landlord from a tenant ... lso: landlord and tenant lease rent seduction :: n. the use of charm, salesmanship, promises, gifts ... ry breach of promise date rape rape sentence :: 1) n. the punishment given to a person convicted o ... ence restitution suspended sentence separate property :: n. in community property states (California, Texas ... pouse. See also: community property sheriff :: n. the top law enforcement officer for a county, u ... ." See also: bailiff sheriff's sale shield laws :: n. statutes enacted in some states which declare t ... See also: privileged communication sodomy :: n. anal copulation by a man inserting his penis in ... tiality). See also: bestiality rape speaking demurrer :: n. an attempt to introduce evidence during a heari ... the operation." See also: demurrer statute :: n. a federal or state written law enacted by the C ... and proclamations are not statutes. statute of limitations :: n. a law which sets the maximum period which one c ... ies. See also: demurrer laches toll statutory rape :: n. sexual intercourse with a female below the lega ... majority minority molestation rape supremacy clause :: n. Article VI, section 2 of the U.S. Constitution, ... f involving a constitutional issue. toll :: v. 1) to delay, suspend or hold off the effect of ... bridge or take passage on a ferry. trial :: n. the examination of facts and law presided over ... at a hearing held at a later time. 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 - MM. O. :: n. slang for modus operandi, the way or pattern in ... her crime. See also: modus operandimagistrate :: n. 1) a generic term for any judge of a court, or ... ce of the peace preliminary hearing Magna Carta :: n. Latin for "Great Charter," it was a document de ... s. It is also spelled Magna Charta. mail box rule :: n. in contract law, making a written offer or acce ... nse in hand when the time runs out. maim :: v. to inflict a serious bodily injury, including m ... to a prison term. See also: mayhem majority :: n. 1) the age when a person can exercise all norma ... t. See also: child infancy minority make :: v. 1) to create something. 2) to sign a check, pro ... xchange check maker promissory note make one whole :: v. to pay or award damages sufficient to put the p ... fault of another. See also: damages maker :: n. 1) the person who signs a check or promissory n ... : check payee payor promissory note malfeasance :: n. intentionally doing something either legally or ... sponsibility. See also: misfeasance malice :: n. a conscious, intentional wrongdoing either of a ... cution murder public figure slander malice aforethought :: n. 1) the conscious intent to cause death or great ... : first degree murder malice murder malicious prosecution :: n. filing a lawsuit with the intention of creating ... vor of the victim. See also: malice malpractice :: n. An act or continuing conduct of a professional ... eed. See also: errors and omissions malum in se :: (mal-uhm in say) adv. Latin referring to an act th ... hibitum. See also: malum prohibitum malum prohibitum :: (mal-uhm prohibit-uhm) adj. Latin meaning "wrong d ... lso: malum in se white collar crime mandamus :: (man-dame-us) n. Latin for "we order," a writ (mor ... mandamus. See also: writ of mandate mandate :: n. 1) any mandatory order or requirement under sta ... See also: mandamus writ of mandate mandatory :: adj., adv. absolutely demanded or required. ... v. absolutely demanded or required. mandatory joinder :: n. the required inclusion of a party in a lawsuit ... sues in the case. See also: joinder |