Dictionary of Law
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race to the courthouse :: legal definition


Race to the courthouse - n. slang for the rule that the first deed, deed of trust, mortgage, lien or judgment which is recorded with the County Recorder will have priority and prevail over later recordings no matter when the documents were dated.

See also: deed judgment lien mortgage and Related Law Terms ↓


Related Law Terms

abstract of judgment :: n. a written summary of a judgment which states ho ... aying the debt. See also: levy lien
acknowledgment :: n. the section at the end of a document where a no ... me leases and various other papers.
appeal :: 1) v. to ask a higher court to reverse the decisio ... ng, as in "he has filed an appeal."
cloud on title (cloud) :: n. an actual or apparent outstanding claim on the ... ion reconveyance title title report
convey :: v. to transfer title (official ownership) to real ... ion conveyance deed grantee grantor
deed :: 1) n. the written document which transfers title ( ... veyance deed of trust warranty deed
deed of trust :: n. a document which pledges real property to secur ... : foreclosure mortgage reconveyance
encumbrance :: (incumbrance)n. a general term for any claim or li ... and must be paid for at some point.
foreclosure :: n. the system by which a party who has loaned mone ... ced sale mortgage notice of default
foreclosure sale :: n. the actual forced sale of real property at a pu ... dicial sale mortgage sheriff's sale
grant deed :: n. the document which transfers title to real prop ... rant grantee grantor quitclaim deed
grantor-grantee index :: n. a set of books and/or computerized lists found ... ument in tracking a chain of title.
judicial foreclosure :: n. a judgment by a court in favor of foreclosure o ... deed of trust foreclosure mortgage
lien :: n. any official claim or charge against property o ... ord's lien mechanic's lien mortgage
mortgage :: n. a document in which the owner pledges his/her/i ... losure notice of default trust deed
notice :: n. 1) information, usually in writing in all legal ... Thirty-day notice three-day notice
record :: 1) v. (ree-cored) to put a document into the offic ... eeding race to the courthouse trial
satisfaction of judgment :: n. a document signed by a judgment creditor (the p ... ord. See also: abstract of judgment
satisfaction of mortgage :: n. a document signed by a lender acknowledging tha ... id off the debt. See also: mortgage
subject to :: adj. referring to the acquisition of title to real ... : assumption deed of trust mortgage
title search :: n. the examination of county records for the prope ... e escrow lien title title insurance

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 - R

race to the courthouse :: n. slang for the rule that the first deed, deed of ... e also: deed judgment lien mortgage
Racketeer Influenced Corrupt Organization (RICO) statue :: n. a federal law which makes it a crime for organi ... s to operate legitimate businesses.
racketeering :: n. the federal crime of conspiring to organize to ... ("organized crime" or "the Mafia").
ransom :: 1) n. money paid to a kidnapper in demand for the ... ive. See also: abduction kidnapping
rape :: 1) n. the crime of sexual intercourse (with actual ... See also: date rape statutory rape
ratable :: adj. taxable according to value, such as an estate ... lue, such as an estate or property.
ratification :: n. confirmation of an action which was not pre-app ... mployee). See also: agent principal
ratify :: v. to confirm and adopt the act of another even th ... ligation. See also: agent principal
rational basis :: n. a test of constitutionality of a statute, askin ... imate and constitutional objective.
ready, willing and able :: adj. fully prepared to act, as in performing a con ... o act, as in performing a contract.
real estate :: n. land, improvements and buildings thereon, inclu ... the future. See also: real property
real estate investment trust :: n. nicknamed REIT, a real estate investment organi ... its upon sale-if there is a profit.
real party in interest :: n. the person or entity who will benefit from a la ... st is the beneficiary of the trust.
real property :: n. 1) all land, structures, firmly attached and in ... onal property real estate reversion
realty :: n. a short form of "real estate." See also: real e ... real estate." See also: real estate
reasonable :: adj., adv. in law, just, rational, appropriate, or ... ost of other actions or activities.
reasonable care :: n. the degree of caution and concern for the safet ... . See also: duty of care negligence
reasonable doubt :: n. not being sure of a criminal defendant's guilt ... also: preponderance of the evidence
reasonable reliance :: n. particularly in contracts, what a prudent perso ... the following:." See also: contract
reasonable speed :: n. the speed of an automobile determined to be low ... e speed limit. See also: negligence