Dictionary of Law
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agent :: legal definition


Agent - n. a person who is authorized to act for another (the agent's principal) through employment, by contract or apparent authority. The importance is that the agent can bind the principal by contract or create liability if he/she causes injury while in the scope of the agency. Who is an agent and what is his/her authority are often difficult and crucial factual issues.

See also: agency authority and Related Law Terms ↓


Related Law Terms

agency :: n. the relationship of a person (called the agent) ... ondeat superior scope of employment
amend :: v. to alter or change by adding, subtracting, or s ... mended pleading statute stipulation
apparent authority :: n. the appearance of being the agent of another (e ... e also: agency ostensible authority
authority :: n. permission, a right coupled with the power to d ... rize ostensible authority principal
contract :: 1) n. an agreement with specific terms between two ... n oral contract unilateral contract
entrapment :: n. in criminal law, the act of law enforcement off ... e drugs if not pressed by the narc?
literary property :: n. the writings of an author which entitles him/he ... as copyrighted. See also: copyright
motion for a summary judgment :: n. a written request for a judgment in the moving ... strict procedures. See also: motion
notary public :: n. a person authorized by the state in which the p ... he state which appoints the notary.
oral contract :: n. an agreement made with spoken words and either ... itten. See also: agreement contract
ostensible agent :: n. a person who has been given the appearance of b ... rent authority ostensible authority
palimony :: n. a substitute for alimony in cases in which the ... the relationship. See also: alimony
party of the first part :: n. reference in a written contract to identify one ... ies another party to the agreement.
principal :: n. 1) main person in a business. 2) employer, the ... ry agency agent respondeat superior
promissory note :: n. a written promise by a person (variously called ... lso: interest obligee obligor usury
qui tam action :: : (kwee tam) n. from Latin for "who as well," a la ... technical violations and/or errors.
ratification :: n. confirmation of an action which was not pre-app ... mployee). See also: agent principal
respondeat superior :: (rehs-pond-dee-at superior) n. Latin for "let the ... : agency agent negligence principal
statute of limitations :: n. a law which sets the maximum period which one c ... ies. See also: demurrer laches toll
undisclosed principal :: n. a person who uses an agent for his/her negotiat ... dispute. See also: agent principal

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 - A

a fortiori :: (ah-for-she-ory) prep. Latin for "with even strong ... rother Cain certainly is too young.
a priori assumption :: (ah-pree-ory) n. from Latin, an assumption that is ... when the reality is not so certain.
a.k.a. :: prep. abbreviation for "also known as" when someon ... nodgrass, a.k.a. "Snuffy the Snod."
ab initio :: prep. lawyer Latin for "from the start," as "it wa ... tart," as "it was legal ab initio."
abandon :: v. to intentionally and permanently give up, surre ... lso: abandoned property abandonment
abandoned property :: n. property left behind (often by a tenant) intent ... -use. See also: abandon abandonment
abandonment :: n. the act of intentionally and permanently giving ... : abandon abandoned property patent
abate :: v. to do away with a problem, such as a public or ... ty septic tank. See also: abatement
abatement :: n. 1) the removal of a problem which is against pu ... eneficiary in full. See also: abate
abduction :: n. the criminal taking away of a person by persuas ... g of children. See also: kidnapping
abet :: v. to help someone commit a crime, including helpi ... n the crime. See also: aid and abet
abeyance :: 1) n. when the owner- ship of property has not bee ... 2) legal jargon for "undetermined."
able-bodied :: adj. physically capable of working at a job or in ... of paying alimony or child support.
abortion :: n. the termination of pregnancy by various means, ... ed abortion continue in the future.
abrogate :: v. to annul or repeal a law or pass legislation th ... ons of a contract. See also: repeal
abscond :: v. 1) traditionally to leave a jurisdiction (where ... as in "he absconded with the loot."
absolute :: adj. complete, and without condition. ... j. complete, and without condition.
abstention doctrine :: n. when the Supreme Court refuses to exercise its ... being appealed from a state court.
abstract :: n. in general, a summary of a record or document, ... tract of judgment abstract of title
abstract of judgment :: n. a written summary of a judgment which states ho ... aying the debt. See also: levy lien