Dictionary of Law
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Founded: 108
attorney-client privilege :: n. the requirement that an attorney may not reveal ... ivileged communication work product
senior lien :: n. the first security interest (lien or claim) pla ... rtgage race to the courthouse UCC-1
alienation of affections :: n. convincing a wife to leave her husband, often f ... een abolished in almost all states.
alienation :: n. the transfer of title to real property, volunta ... such as a mortgage. See also: alien
equitable lien :: n. a lien on property imposed by a court in order ... lso: constructive trust equity lien
mechanic's lien :: n. the right of a craftsman, laborer, supplier, ar ... ll sue for the debt. See also: lien
landlord's lien :: n. the right of a landlord to sell abandoned perso ... to the ex-tenant and a public sale.
lien :: n. any official claim or charge against property o ... ord's lien mechanic's lien mortgage
lienor :: n. a person who holds a lien on another's property ... s property or funds. See also: lien
alien :: 1) n. a person who is not a citizen of the country ... 3) v. to convey title to property.
restraint on alienation :: n. an attempt in a deed or will to prevent the sal ... enant rule against perpetuities use
levy :: 1) v. to seize (take) property upon a writ of exec ... heriff's sale tax writ of execution
abstract of judgment :: n. a written summary of a judgment which states ho ... aying the debt. See also: levy lien
execution :: n. 1) the act of getting an officer of the court t ... so: death penalty writ of execution
offer of proof :: n. an explanation made by an attorney to a judge d ... rial irrelevant objection testimony
of counsel :: adj. reference to an attorney who is not actively ... quiring his/her full-time presence.
use :: n. the right to enjoy the benefits of real propert ... ay it is only of academic interest.
officer of the court :: n. any person who has an obligation to promote jus ... also: attorney bailiff clerk judge
natural law :: n. 1) standards of conduct derived from traditiona ... eated by mankind through the state.
mortgage :: n. a document in which the owner pledges his/her/i ... losure notice of default trust deed
preference :: n. in bankruptcy, the payment of a debt to one cre ... nds or assets. See also: bankruptcy
perfect :: : (with stress on the second syllable) v. 1) to co ... perfect. See also: mechanic's lien
priority :: n. the right to be first or ahead of the rights or ... (in the "race to the courthouse").
paralegal :: n. a non-lawyer who performs routine tasks requiri ... h less than that for the attorneys.
work product :: n. the writings, notes, memoranda, reports on conv ... ies to be employed by the attorney.
legal services :: n. the work performed by a lawyer for a client. ... performed by a lawyer for a client.
last will and testament :: n. a fancy and redundant way of saying "will." Law ... writing another one. See also: will
Workers' Compensation Acts :: n. state statutes which establish liability of emp ... rs' compensation insurance company.
lis pendens :: (lease pen-dense) n. Latin for "a suit pending," a ... ob can be penalized by court order.
malicious prosecution :: n. filing a lawsuit with the intention of creating ... vor of the victim. See also: malice
privileged communication :: n. statements and conversations made under circums ... See also: attorney-client privilege
marketable title :: n. the title to real property which has no encumbr ... e. See also: contract real property
malpractice :: n. An act or continuing conduct of a professional ... eed. See also: errors and omissions
meet and confer :: n. a requirement of courts that before certain typ ... s which are freighted with emotion.
probation :: n. a chance to remain free (or serve only a short ... See also: attorney-client privilege
title report :: n. the written analysis of the status of title to ... lso: abstract title title insurance
self-serving :: adj. referring to a question asked of a party to a ... ng declaration. See also: objection
security interest :: n. generic term for the property rights of a lende ... : deed of trust lien mortgage UCC-1
secured transaction :: n. any loan or credit in which property is pledged ... d of trust lien mortgage pawn UCC-1
shield laws :: n. statutes enacted in some states which declare t ... See also: privileged communication
summation :: n. the final argument of an attorney at the close ... 's case. See also: closing argument
special appearance :: n. the representation by an attorney of a person i ... anged. See also: general appearance
small claims court :: n. a division of most municipal, city or other low ... od example of a small claims court.
subornation of perjury :: n. the crime of encouraging, inducing or assisting ... itness's perjury. See also: perjury
subrogation :: n. assuming the legal rights of a person for whom ... also: negligence subrogee subrogor
title search :: n. the examination of county records for the prope ... e escrow lien title title insurance
scrivener :: n. a person who writes a document for another, usu ... r practicing law without a license.
represent :: v. 1) to act as the agent for another. 2) to act a ... parties." See also: representation
record :: 1) v. (ree-cored) to put a document into the offic ... eeding race to the courthouse trial
race to the courthouse :: n. slang for the rule that the first deed, deed of ... e also: deed judgment lien mortgage
prosecute :: v. 1) in criminal law, to charge a person with a c ... rney General prosecution prosecutor
representation :: n. 1) the act of being another's agent. 2) acting ... ns or in court. See also: represent
jobber :: n. a merchant who buys products (usually in bulk o ... buys and acts for specific clients.
satisfaction of judgment :: n. a document signed by a judgment creditor (the p ... ord. See also: abstract of judgment
rules of court :: n. a set of procedural regulations adopted by cour ... s counsel. See also: procedure rule
rule against perpetuities :: n. the legal prohibition against tying up property ... . See also: restraint on alienation
retainer :: n. the advance payment to an attorney for services ... e stuck with extensive unpaid fees.
subcontractor :: n. a person or business which has a contract (as a ... ependent contractor mechanic's lien
hostile witness :: n. technically an "adverse witness" in a trial who ... so: adverse witness leading witness
attorney of record :: n. the attorney who has appeared in court and/or s ... eve have long since been completed.
attorney's fee :: n. the payment for legal services. It can take sev ... ees in the particular type of case.
arguendo :: prep. Latin meaning "for the sake of argument," us ... rs most commonly in appeals briefs.
appraiser :: n. a professional who makes appraisals of the valu ... isal Institute). See also: appraise
appearance :: n. the act of a party or an attorney showing up in ... neral appearance special appearance
attorney's work product :: n. written materials, charts, notes of conversatio ... ivileged communication work product
bail bondsman :: n. a professional agent for an insurance company w ... t to jail. See also: bail bail bond
champerty :: n. an agreement between the party suing in a lawsu ... . See also: barratry contingent fee
certificate of title :: n. generally, the title document for a motor vehic ... a "pink slip." See also: pink slip
barratry :: n. creating legal business by stirring up disputes ... ent he/she has no legitimate claim.
bankruptcy proceedings :: n. the bankruptcy procedure is: a) filing a petiti ... ankruptcy court claim in bankruptcy
American Civil Liberties Union :: n. a membership organization founded in 1920 to de ... rk, NY 10036; tel.: (212) 944-9800.
adverse witness :: n. a witness in a trial who is found by the judge ... r the opposition. See also: witness
writ of execution :: n. a court order to a sheriff to enforce a judgmen ... ing plaintiff). See also: execution
treason :: n. the crime of betraying one's country, defined i ... nment. See also: espionage sedition
sheriff's sale :: n. an auction sale of property held by the sheriff ... so: execution forced sale levy writ
cloud on title (cloud) :: n. an actual or apparent outstanding claim on the ... ion reconveyance title title report
abstract of title :: n. the written report on a title search which show ... e also: chain of title title report
acceptance of service :: n. agreement by a defendant (or his/her attorney) ... o accept service. See also: service
admission to bail :: n. an order of a court in a criminal case allowing ... lient. See also: bail bail bondsman
administrative law :: n. the procedures created by administrative agenci ... judge Administrative Procedure Act
actionable :: adj. when enough facts or circumstances exist to m ... ction lawsuit malicious prosecution
accounts receivable :: n. the amounts of money due or owed to a business ... sidering the chances of collection.
closing argument :: n. the final argument by an attorney on behalf of ... . See also: opening statement trial
Code of Professional Responsibility :: n. a set of rules governing the ethical conduct of ... de has been adopted by most states.
fiduciary :: 1) n. from the Latin fiducia, meaning "trust," a p ... lation fiduciary relationship trust
free and clear :: adj. referring to the ownership of real property u ... the title has no claim against it.
fee tail :: n. an old feudal expression for a title to real pr ... rest only. See also: fee fee simple
errors and omissions :: n. short hand for malpractice insurance which give ... issions which amount to negligence.
equity :: n. 1) a venerable group of rights and procedures t ... ry enjoin equitable injunction writ
general appearance :: n. an attorney's representation of a client in cou ... case. See also: special appearance
grantor-grantee index :: n. a set of books and/or computerized lists found ... ument in tracking a chain of title.
impound :: v. 1) to collect funds, in addition to installment ... cases. See also: forfeit forfeiture
illegal immigrant :: n. an alien (non-citizen) who has entered the Unit ... ion date of a visa. See also: alien
illegal :: 1) adj. in violation of statute, regulation or ord ... . See also: alien illegal immigrant
hometowned :: adv. legalese for a lawyer or client suffering dis ... orneys over those from out of town.
encumbrance :: (incumbrance)n. a general term for any claim or li ... and must be paid for at some point.
disbar :: v. to remove an attorney from the list of practici ... legal ethics. (See moral turpitude
conflict of interest :: n. a situation in which a person has a duty to mor ... a position adverse to the customer.
confidential relation :: n. a relationship in which one person has confiden ... remely obvious. See also: fiduciary
confidential communication :: n. certain written communications which can be kep ... privilege privileged communication
commingling :: n. the act of mixing the funds belonging to one pa ... rust accounts for funds of another.
contingent fee :: n. a fee to a lawyer which will be due and payable ... epend on the outcome are unethical.
contractor :: n. 1) a person or entity that enters into a contra ... actor mechanic's lien subcontractor
defense attorney :: n. 1) the attorney representing the defendant in a ... lso: defendant plaintiff's attorney
criminal attorney :: n. a popular term for an attorney who specializes ... . See also: crime felon misdemeanor
court costs :: n. fees for expenses that the courts pass on to at ... ee also: cost bill prevailing party
convey :: v. to transfer title (official ownership) to real ... ion conveyance deed grantee grantor
in propria persona :: adj. from Latin "for one's self," acting on one's ... client and an ass for an attorney."