Dictionary of Law
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palimony :: legal definition


Palimony - n. a substitute for alimony in cases in which the couple were not married but lived together for a long period and then terminated their relationship. The key issue is whether there was an agreement that one partner would support the other in return for the second making a home and performing other domestic duties beyond sexual pleasures. Written palimony contracts are rare, but the courts have found "implied" contracts, when a woman has given up her career, managed the household or assisted in the man's business for a lengthy period of time. In the past 20 years palimony suits have proliferated, particularly against celebrities and wealthy businessmen, but the earliest was the famous California case of Sarah Althea Hill v. Senator William Sharon in the 1880s, which Ms. Hill lost. The line between a mutual "affair" and a relationship warranting palimony is a difficult one which must be decided on a case by case basis. Palimony suits may be avoided by contracts written prior to or during the relationship.

See also: alimony and Related Law Terms ↓


Related Law Terms

acceptance :: n. 1) receiving something from another with the in ... ered into. See also: contract offer
agent :: n. a person who is authorized to act for another ( ... issues. See also: agency authority
amend :: v. to alter or change by adding, subtracting, or s ... mended pleading statute stipulation
appeal :: 1) v. to ask a higher court to reverse the decisio ... ng, as in "he has filed an appeal."
case system :: n. the method of studying law generally used in Am ... Langdell and soon became standard.
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
class action :: n. a lawsuit filed by one or more people on behalf ... ees usually require court approval.
common law :: n. the traditional unwritten law of England, based ... plied without reference to statute.
contract :: 1) n. an agreement with specific terms between two ... n oral contract unilateral contract
counterpart :: n. in the law of contracts, a written paper which ... rent localities. See also: contract
court :: n. 1) the judge, as in "The court rules in favor o ... cost and wait of full court trials.
criminal calendar :: n. the list of criminal cases to be called in cour ... e plea preliminary hearing sentence
damages :: n. the amount of money which a plaintiff (the pers ... liquidated damages special damages
deed :: 1) n. the written document which transfers title ( ... veyance deed of trust warranty deed
divorce :: 1) n. the termination of a marriage by legal actio ... y separate property spousal support
file :: 1) v. to deposit with the clerk of the court a wri ... rrespondence and notes on the case.
firm offer :: n. in contract law, an offer (usually in writing) ... ptance contract counter offer offer
grace period :: n. a time stated in a contract in which a late pay ... the contract, i.e. your insurance.
insanity :: n. mental illness of such a severe nature that a p ... M'Naughten rule temporary insanity
joinder :: n. the joining together of several lawsuits or sev ... er misjoinder multiplicity of suits
jury :: n. one of the remarkable innovations of the Englis ... hallenge sequester venire voir dire
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
lease :: 1) n. a written agreement in which the owner of pr ... triple net lease unlawful detainer
libel :: 1) n. to publish in print (including pictures), wr ... libel per se public figure slander
malpractice :: n. An act or continuing conduct of a professional ... eed. See also: errors and omissions
motion for a summary judgment :: n. a written request for a judgment in the moving ... strict procedures. See also: motion
no fault insurance :: n: a type of automobile insurance required of car ... ling lawsuits. See also: negligence
off calendar :: adj. refers to an order of the court to take a law ... of either party. See also: calendar
option :: n. a right to purchase property or require another ... ng or upon expiration of the lease.
oral contract :: n. an agreement made with spoken words and either ... itten. See also: agreement contract
party of the first part :: n. reference in a written contract to identify one ... ies another party to the agreement.
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
promissory note :: n. a written promise by a person (variously called ... lso: interest obligee obligor usury
proof :: n. confirmation of a fact by evidence. In a trial, ... doubt preponderance of the evidence
prosecution :: n. 1) in criminal law, the government attorney cha ... se). See also: prosecute prosecutor
qui tam action :: : (kwee tam) n. from Latin for "who as well," a la ... technical violations and/or errors.
rule against perpetuities :: n. the legal prohibition against tying up property ... . See also: restraint on alienation
search warrant :: n. a written order by a judge which permits a law ... ble cause search search and seizure
small claims court :: n. a division of most municipal, city or other low ... od example of a small claims court.
statute of limitations :: n. a law which sets the maximum period which one c ... ies. See also: demurrer laches toll
term :: n. 1) in contracts or leases, a period of time, su ... nancy" is one term for "occupancy."
variance :: n. 1) an exception to a zoning ordinance, authoriz ... process." See also: dismissal proof
wrongful termination :: n. a right of an employee to sue his/her employer ... ing an employee's grounds for suit.

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 - P

paid into court :: adj. referring to money deposited with the clerk o ... differences. See also: interpleader
pain and suffering :: n. the physical and mental distress suffered from ... l damages special damages suffering
palimony :: n. a substitute for alimony in cases in which the ... the relationship. See also: alimony
pander :: 1) v. to solicit customers for a prostitute. 2) n. ... ons or favors. See also: prostitute
panderer :: n. 1) a person who panders or solicits for a prost ... special interests. See also: pander
panel :: n. the list of people selected to appear for jury ... or jury duty. See also: jury venire
paper hanger :: n. slang for a person who criminally writes and ca ... ey in them. See also: forgery fraud
par :: n. 1) an equal level. 2) the face value of a stock ... common stock preferred stock stock
paralegal :: n. a non-lawyer who performs routine tasks requiri ... h less than that for the attorneys.
paramount title :: n. a right to real property which prevails over an ... n's claim of title. See also: title
parcel :: n. a defined piece of real estate, usually resulti ... See also: real estate real property
pardon :: 1) v. to use the executive power of a Governor or ... also: amnesty commutation reprieve
parens patriae :: (paa-rens pat-tree-eye) n. Latin for "father of hi ... pport custody divorce guardian ward
parent :: n. the lawful and natural father or mother of a pe ... natural parent. See also: adoption
parental neglect :: n. a crime consisting of acts or omissions of a pa ... usive or sexually predatory person.
pari delicto :: adj. equal fault. See also: in pari delicto ... al fault. See also: in pari delicto
parish :: n. 1) a geographic area served by a church (partic ... overnmental equivalent of a county.
parody :: n. the humorous use of an existing song, play, or ... l significance. See also: copyright
parol :: adj. oral. See also: parol evidence rule ... oral. See also: parol evidence rule
parol evidence rule :: n. if there is evidence in writing (such as a sign ... or contradict the written document.