Dictionary of Law
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servant :: legal definition


Servant - n. an employee of an employer, technically one who works for a master. A servant is distinguished from an "independent contractor" who operates his/her own business even though spending much time on the work of a particular person or entity. The servant has established hours or piece work, is under the direction of the employer even as to details, cannot work for competitors and acts for the benefit of the employer rather than for himself/herself. The employer of a servant must provide to the servant (employee) worker's compensation insurance, Social Security coverage, make income tax deductions, and provide benefit from various federal and state labor laws. An independent contractor is responsible for such payments and benefits himself/herself.

See also: employee independent contractor master and servant and Related Law Terms ↓


Related Law Terms

agency :: n. the relationship of a person (called the agent) ... ondeat superior scope of employment
apparent authority :: n. the appearance of being the agent of another (e ... e also: agency ostensible authority
at will employment :: n. a provision found in many employment contracts ... ons. See also: wrongful termination
bankruptcy :: n. a federal system of statutes and courts which p ... y proceedings trustee in bankruptcy
contractor :: n. 1) a person or entity that enters into a contra ... actor mechanic's lien subcontractor
employee :: n. a person who is hired for a wage, salary, fee o ... ondeat superior scope of employment
employment :: n. the hiring of a person for compensation. It is ... ployment Workers' Compensation Acts
implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing :: n. a general assumption of the law of contracts, t ... -long employment. See also: implied
independent contractor :: n. a person or business which performs services fo ... ue independence. See also: employee
literary property :: n. the writings of an author which entitles him/he ... as copyrighted. See also: copyright
master :: n. 1) employer, in the area of law known as "maste ... ter and servant respondeat superior
mechanic's lien :: n. the right of a craftsman, laborer, supplier, ar ... ll sue for the debt. See also: lien
paid into court :: adj. referring to money deposited with the clerk o ... differences. See also: interpleader
service :: n. 1) paid work by another person, either by contr ... ersonal services service of process
subcontractor :: n. a person or business which has a contract (as a ... ependent contractor mechanic's lien
trust :: n. an entity created to hold assets for the benefi ... testamentary trust trustee trustor
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 - S

said :: adj. a reference back to a thing that was previous ... automobile in a negligent manner."
sale :: n. transfer of something (and title to it) in retu ... contract forced sale sheriff's sale
salvage :: 1) v. to save goods. 2) n. payment to a person or ... which saves cargo from a shipwreck.
sanction :: n. 1) a financial penalty imposed by a judge on a ... ction." See also: contempt of court
satisfaction :: n. receiving payment or performance of what is due ... n contract satisfaction of judgment
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
save harmless :: v. 1) also called hold harmless, to indemnify (pro ... . See also: hold harmless indemnify
savings and loan :: n. a banking and lending institution, chartered ei ... vings into the home finance market.
scienter :: n. Latin for "having knowledge." In criminal law, ... ents were lies and thus fraudulent.
scintilla :: n. Latin for "spark." Scintilla is commonly used i ... ark) upon which to base a judgment.
scope of employment :: n. actions of an employee which further the busine ... ter and servant respondeat superior
scrivener :: n. a person who writes a document for another, usu ... r practicing law without a license.
seal :: n. a device which creates an impression upon paper ... e "sealed," but that is rare today.
sealed verdict :: n. the decision of a jury when there is a delay in ... reconvenes. See also: jury verdict
sealing of records :: n. trial records and decisions which a judge order ... eep the terms from public scrutiny.
search :: v. 1) to examine another's premises (including a v ... e search and seizure search warrant
search and seizure :: n. examination of a person's premises (residence, ... robable cause search search warrant
search warrant :: n. a written order by a judge which permits a law ... ble cause search search and seizure
second degree murder :: n. a non-premeditated killing, resulting from an a ... t degree murder manslaughter murder