fee simple :: n. absolute title to land, free of any other claim ... e:" or similar words. See also: fee
attorney's fee :: n. the payment for legal services. It can take sev ... ees in the particular type of case.
in fee simple :: adj. referring to holding clear title to real prop ... property. See also: fee fee simple
fee :: n. 1) absolute title in land, from old French, fie ... See also: attorney's fee fee simple
fee tail :: n. an old feudal expression for a title to real pr ... rest only. See also: fee fee simple
extraordinary fees :: n. attorneys' fees claimed, usually in the adminis ... n. See also: attorney's fee probate
contingent fee :: n. a fee to a lawyer which will be due and payable ... epend on the outcome are unethical.
jury fees :: n. the rather minimal amount paid each day to juro ... ees as a court cost. See also: jury
sanction :: n. 1) a financial penalty imposed by a judge on a ... ction." See also: contempt of court
promissory note :: n. a written promise by a person (variously called ... lso: interest obligee obligor usury
prevailing party :: n. the winner in a lawsuit. Many contracts, leases ... ed before or after trial has begun.
divorce :: 1) n. the termination of a marriage by legal actio ... y separate property spousal support
disbar :: v. to remove an attorney from the list of practici ... legal ethics. (See moral turpitude
determinable :: adj. defining something which may be terminated up ... es or no longer lives in the house.
seisin :: (sees-in) n. an old feudal term for having both po ... perty). See also: fee simple seized
prayer :: n. the specific request for judgment, relief and/o ... ee also: complaint default judgment
life without possibility of parole :: n. a sentence sometimes given for particularly vic ... or may someday reduce the sentence.
general appearance :: n. an attorney's representation of a client in cou ... case. See also: special appearance
insurance :: n. a contract (insurance policy) in which the insu ... t clause Workers' Compensation Acts
lien :: n. any official claim or charge against property o ... ord's lien mechanic's lien mortgage
antitrust laws :: n. acts adopted by Congress to outlaw or restrict ... so: price fixing restraint of trade
motion :: n. a formal request made to a judge for an order o ... g, an oral motion may be permitted.
lis pendens :: (lease pen-dense) n. Latin for "a suit pending," a ... ob can be penalized by court order.
non-profit corporation :: n. an organization incorporated under state laws a ... harity corporation cy pres doctrine
motion for a new trial :: n. a request made by the loser for the case to be ... hstanding the verdict motion N.O.V.
note :: n. a promissory note, a written statement of debt ... the note. See also: promissory note
offshore corporation :: n. a corporation chartered under the laws of a cou ... nds in accounts out of the country.
patent :: 1) adj. obvious. Used in such expressions as a "pa ... patent infringement patent pending
passenger :: n. a rider who has paid a fare on a train, bus, ai ... also: common carrier guest statute
joint tortfeasors :: n. two or more persons whose negligence in a singl ... : comparative negligence negligence
mediation :: n. the attempt to settle a legal dispute through a ... a settlement. See also: arbitration
lease :: 1) n. a written agreement in which the owner of pr ... triple net lease unlawful detainer
per diem :: adj. or n. Latin for "per day," it is short for pa ... or fees of an employee or an agent.
malicious prosecution :: n. filing a lawsuit with the intention of creating ... vor of the victim. See also: malice
malpractice :: n. An act or continuing conduct of a professional ... eed. See also: errors and omissions
jury :: n. one of the remarkable innovations of the Englis ... hallenge sequester venire voir dire
mandamus :: (man-dame-us) n. Latin for "we order," a writ (mor ... mandamus. See also: writ of mandate
mental anguish :: n. mental suffering which includes fright, feeling ... See also: damages mental suffering
rules of court :: n. a set of procedural regulations adopted by cour ... s counsel. See also: procedure rule
tax costs :: n. a motion to contest a claim for court costs sub ... sts" to avoid paying these charges.
spot zoning :: n. a provision in a general plan which benefits a ... . See also: grandfathered in zoning
speculative damages :: n. possible financial loss or expenses claimed by ... future customers. See also: damages
special appearance :: n. the representation by an attorney of a person i ... anged. See also: general appearance
transcript :: n. the written record of all proceedings, includin ... unless transcription is requested.
variance :: n. 1) an exception to a zoning ordinance, authoriz ... process." See also: dismissal proof
simple trust :: n. a trust which requires that all income be distr ... nd not accumulated. See also: trust
voir dire :: (vwahr [with a near-silent "r"] deer) n. from Fren ... t witness jury peremptory challenge
vexatious litigation :: n. filing a lawsuit with the knowledge that it has ... lous malicious prosecution sanction
small claims court :: n. a division of most municipal, city or other low ... od example of a small claims court.
sexual harassment :: n. unwanted sexual approaches (including touching, ... emale employees. See also: nuisance
reorganization :: n. the implementation of a business plan to restru ... also: bankruptcy corporation merger
record :: 1) v. (ree-cored) to put a document into the offic ... eeding race to the courthouse trial
probate :: 1) n. the process of proving a will is valid and t ... e also: administrator executor will
restrictive covenant :: n. 1) an agreement included in a deed to real prop ... o: covenant that runs with the land
retainer :: n. the advance payment to an attorney for services ... e stuck with extensive unpaid fees.
scrivener :: n. a person who writes a document for another, usu ... r practicing law without a license.
insurer :: n. an insurance company which agrees to pay someon ... lled a premium. See also: insurance
right of way :: n. 1) a pathway or road with a specific descriptio ... s easement egress floating easement
pornography :: n. pictures and/or writings of sexual activity int ... courts to follow. See also: obscene
in forma pauperis :: (in form-ah paw-purr-iss) adj. or adv. Latin for " ... poor defendants who have been sued.
champerty :: n. an agreement between the party suing in a lawsu ... . See also: barratry contingent fee
certificate of deposit (CD) :: n. a document issued by a bank in return for a dep ... D before the pledged time runs out.
carrying for hire :: n. the act of transporting goods or individuals fo ... n. See also: carrier common carrier
charge :: n. 1) in a criminal case, the specific statement o ... trial judge. 3) a fee for services.
class action :: n. a lawsuit filed by one or more people on behalf ... ees usually require court approval.
complaint :: n. the first document filed with the court (actual ... g prayer service of process summons
commission :: n. 1) a fee paid based on a percentage of the sale ... on or the Federal Trade Commission.
burden :: n. anything that results in a restrictive load upo ... perty to reach his home (easement).
incriminate :: v. to make a statement in which one admits that he ... d to information which would be so.
answer :: n. in law, a written pleading filed by a defendant ... emurrer general denial verification
attorney's work product :: n. written materials, charts, notes of conversatio ... ivileged communication work product
attorney's advertising :: n. the commercials which appear on television or c ... es to handle high volume practices.
articles of incorporation :: n. the basic charter of a corporation which spells ... year's taxes. See also: corporation
bail bondsman :: n. a professional agent for an insurance company w ... t to jail. See also: bail bail bond
bar association :: n. an organization of lawyers. There are two types ... oluntary organization of attorneys.
bankruptcy :: n. a federal system of statutes and courts which p ... y proceedings trustee in bankruptcy
compromise :: 1) n. an agreement between opposing parties to set ... some demands. See also: settlement
barratry :: n. creating legal business by stirring up disputes ... ent he/she has no legitimate claim.
escrow :: 1) n. a form of account held by an "escrow agent" ... w the deal." See also: escrow agent
en banc :: (on bonk) French for "in the bench," it signifies ... he case and agreed to by the court.
frivolous :: adj. referring to a legal move in a lawsuit clearl ... ing the courts to resolve disputes.
general partner :: n. 1) usually one of the owners and operators of a ... ted partnership partner partnership
compromise verdict :: n. a decision made by a jury in which the jurors s ... ning the verdict. See also: verdict
hearsay rule :: n. the basic rule that testimony or documents whic ... interest dying declaration hearsay
employee :: n. a person who is hired for a wage, salary, fee o ... ondeat superior scope of employment
franchise :: 1) n. a right granted by the government to a perso ... on property, income or profits tax.
continuance :: n. a postponement of a date of a trial, hearing or ... continuances to discourage delays.
easement :: n. the right to use the real property of another f ... rstandings at the time of creation.
contingent :: adj. possible, but not certain. See also: continge ... contingent fee contingent interest
copyright :: 1) n. the exclusive right of the author or creator ... plagiarism public domain trademark
corporation :: n. an organization formed with state governmental ... ation public corporation securities
cumis counsel :: n. an attorney employed by a defendant in a lawsui ... fendant be approved by the company.
court costs :: n. fees for expenses that the courts pass on to at ... ee also: cost bill prevailing party
leading question :: n. a question asked of a witness by an attorney du ... e also: cross-examination objection
ipso facto :: (ip-soh fact-toe)prep. Latin for "by the fact itse ... ot entitled to a driver's license."
last clear chance :: n. a rule of law in determining responsibility for ... contributory negligence negligence
legal aid society :: n. an organization formed to assist persons who ha ... bar association. See also: pro bono
interest :: n. 1) any and all, partial or total right to prope ... nal property real property standing
substantial performance :: n. in the law of contracts, fulfillment of the obl ... also: contract specific performance
conflict of law :: n. a situation in which both state and federal law ... y arose. See also: forum preemption
gross negligence :: n. carelessness which is in reckless disregard for ... damages negligence punitive damages
roadside test :: n. a preliminary test law enforcement officers use ... g while intoxicated Miranda warning
rehearing :: n. conducting a hearing again based on the motion ... the judge or agency was just wrong.
misdemeanor :: n. a lesser crime punishable by a fine and/or coun ... tion are felonies. See also: felony
overrule :: v. 1) to reject an attorney's objection to a quest ... : appellate court objection sustain
leading :: 1) v. short for "leading the witness," in which th ... tness leading the witness objection
sustain :: v. in trial practice, for a judge to agree that an ... /she will "overrule" the objection.
attorney-client privilege :: n. the requirement that an attorney may not reveal ... ivileged communication work product
approach the bench :: v. an attorney's movement from the counsel table t ... ake a recess to go to the restroom.
administrative hearing :: n. a hearing before any governmental agency or bef ... ee also: administrative law hearing
argumentative :: adj. the characterization of a question asked by t ... oody glove just walked over there?"
comparative negligence :: n. a rule of law applied in accident cases to dete ... utory negligence damages negligence
basis :: n. the original cost of an asset to be used to det ... ssistance. See also: adjusted basis
attachment :: n. the seizing of money or property prior to getti ... bond. See also: writ of attachment
compound interest :: n. payment of interest upon principal and previous ... See also: interest promissory note