Dictionary of Law
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caption :: legal definition


Caption - n. the first section of any written legal pleading (papers) to be filed, which contains the name, address, telephone number of the attorney, the person or persons the attorney represents, the court name, the title of the case, the number of the case, and the title of the documents (complaint, accusation, answer, motion, etc.). Each jurisdiction has its own rules as to the exact format of the caption.


Related Law Terms

abeyance :: 1) n. when the owner- ship of property has not bee ... 2) legal jargon for "undetermined."
adjuster :: n. an employee (usually a non-lawyer) of an insura ... e company in approving settlements.
administrator :: n. the person appointed by the court to handle the ... e also: administer executor probate
after-acquired title :: n. title to property acquired after the owner atte ... ed title goes automatically to Sam.
arbitrator :: n. one who conducts an arbitration, and serves as ... he other two. See also: arbitration
articles of incorporation :: n. the basic charter of a corporation which spells ... year's taxes. See also: corporation
attorney of record :: n. the attorney who has appeared in court and/or s ... eve have long since been completed.
attorney's work product :: n. written materials, charts, notes of conversatio ... ivileged communication work product
bankruptcy :: n. a federal system of statutes and courts which p ... y proceedings trustee in bankruptcy
Bill of Rights :: n. the first ten amendments to the federal Constit ... ved to the states or to the people.
challenge :: n. the right of each attorney in a jury trial to r ... ess. See also: peremptory challenge
character witness :: n. a person who testifies in a trial on behalf of ... ases and civil cases such as fraud.
citation :: n. 1) a notice to appear in court due to the proba ... se is not in point." See also: cite
contingent fee :: n. a fee to a lawyer which will be due and payable ... epend on the outcome are unethical.
criminal calendar :: n. the list of criminal cases to be called in cour ... e plea preliminary hearing sentence
d.b.a. :: n. short for "doing business as," when a person or ... that is registered with the state.
executor :: n. the person appointed to administer the estate o ... sed decedent executrix probate will
extradition :: n. the surrender by one state or country of a pers ... ty. See also: fugitive from justice
fictitious defendants :: n. when a party suing (plaintiff) is not sure if h ... are not permitted in federal cases.
file :: 1) v. to deposit with the clerk of the court a wri ... rrespondence and notes on the case.
fraud :: n. the intentional use of deceit, a trick or some ... audulent conveyance intrinsic fraud
guardian :: n. a person who has been appointed by a judge to t ... torship. See also: conservator ward
in personam :: adj. (in purr-soh-nam) from Latin for "directed to ... here. See also: in rem jurisdiction
in propria persona :: adj. from Latin "for one's self," acting on one's ... client and an ass for an attorney."
indigent :: 1) n. a person so poor and needy that he/she canno ... person who is very poor and needy.
insanity :: n. mental illness of such a severe nature that a p ... M'Naughten rule temporary insanity
jury :: n. one of the remarkable innovations of the Englis ... hallenge sequester venire voir dire
justice :: n. 1) fairness. 2) moral rightness. 3) a scheme or ... e appellate courts. See also: court
living will :: n. also called "a durable power of attorney," it i ... upport. See also: power of attorney
malpractice :: n. An act or continuing conduct of a professional ... eed. See also: errors and omissions
merger :: n. 1) in corporate law, the joining together of tw ... and taking one, and wife the other.
no fault insurance :: n: a type of automobile insurance required of car ... ling lawsuits. See also: negligence
nolle prosequi :: (no-lay pro-say-kwee) n. Latin for "we shall no lo ... nocent and declared nolle prosequi.
notice :: n. 1) information, usually in writing in all legal ... Thirty-day notice three-day notice
petition :: 1) n. a formal written request to a court for an o ... dent. See also: divorce motion writ
power of attorney :: n. a written document signed by a person giving an ... y, as in a real estate transaction.
privileged communication :: n. statements and conversations made under circums ... See also: attorney-client privilege
proof :: n. confirmation of a fact by evidence. In a trial, ... doubt preponderance of the evidence
prosecute :: v. 1) in criminal law, to charge a person with a c ... rney General prosecution prosecutor
record :: 1) v. (ree-cored) to put a document into the offic ... eeding race to the courthouse trial
service of process :: n. the delivery of copies of legal documents such ... by publication substituted service
special appearance :: n. the representation by an attorney of a person i ... anged. See also: general appearance
statute of limitations :: n. a law which sets the maximum period which one c ... ies. See also: demurrer laches toll
title :: n. 1) ownership of real property or personal prope ... ink slip real property title search
trial :: n. the examination of facts and law presided over ... at a hearing held at a later time.
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 - C

C.I.F. :: n. the total of cost, insurance and freight charge ... aid on goods purchased and shipped.
calendar :: 1) n. the list of cases to be called for trial bef ... clerk of the court calendars cases.
calendar call :: n. the hearing at which a case is set for trial. ... g at which a case is set for trial.
call :: n. the demand by a corporation that a stockholder ... assessment on shares already owned.
calumny :: n. the intentional and generally vicious false acc ... 's reputation. See also: defamation
cancel :: v. to cross out, annul, destroy, void and/or resci ... g, so that it cannot be used again.
cancellation :: cancel ... cancel
caning :: n. a punishment for crimes employed in certain Asi ... last century in the United States.
canon law :: n. laws and regulations over ecclesiastical (churc ... nduct with no religious connection.
cap :: n. slang for maximum, as the most interest that ca ... "adjustable rate" promissory note.
capital :: 1) n. from Latin for caput, meaning "head," the ba ... count capital assets stock in trade
capital account :: n. the record which lists all basic assets of a bu ... or the alleged value of good will.
capital assets :: n. equipment, property, and funds owned by a busin ... . See also: capital capital account
capital expenditure :: n. payment by a business for basic assets such as ... y intended to improve productivity.
capital gains :: n. the difference between the sales price and the ... so: basis delayed exchange exchange
capital investment :: capital expenditure ... capital expenditure
capital offense :: n. any criminal charge which is punishable by the ... . See also: bail capital punishment
capital punishment :: n. execution (death) for a capital offense. The U. ... or death. See also: capital offense
capital stock :: n. the original amount paid by investors into a co ... price. See also: corporation stock
capitalization :: n. 1) the act of counting anticipated earnings and ... for conversion into capital assets.