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: 118
quitclaim deed :: n. a real property deed which transfers (conveys) ... also: convey deed grant deed title
warranty deed :: n. a deed to real property which guarantees that t ... : grant deed quitclaim deed warrant
deed :: 1) n. the written document which transfers title ( ... veyance deed of trust warranty deed
grant deed :: n. the document which transfers title to real prop ... rant grantee grantor quitclaim deed
deed of trust :: n. a document which pledges real property to secur ... : foreclosure mortgage reconveyance
trust deed :: n. another name for a deed of trust, a form of mor ... paid back. See also: deed of trust
exception in deed :: n. a notation in a deed of title to real property ... the transfer (conveyance) of title.
registry of deeds :: n. the records of land title documents kept by the ... mployee to locate. See also: record
remise :: v. to give up something, sometimes used in quitcla ... aim deeds. See also: quitclaim deed
grantee :: n. the party who receives title to real property ( ... or quitclaim deed. See also: grant
grantor :: n. the party who transfers title in real property ... or quitclaim deed. See also: grant
grant :: v. to transfer real property from a title holder ( ... deed grantee grantor quitclaim deed
patent defect :: n. an obvious flaw in a product or a document (suc ... he property description in a deed).
prevailing party :: n. the winner in a lawsuit. Many contracts, leases ... ed before or after trial has begun.
perjurer :: n. a person who intentionally lies while under an ... alse information. See also: perjury
perjury :: n. the crime of intentionally lying after being du ... ly made a mistake or misunderstood.
preference :: n. in bankruptcy, the payment of a debt to one cre ... nds or assets. See also: bankruptcy
public easement :: n. the right of the general public to use certain ... lso: easement prescriptive easement
race to the courthouse :: n. slang for the rule that the first deed, deed of ... e also: deed judgment lien mortgage
public record :: n. any information, minutes, files, accounts or ot ... l judgment are both public records.
omission :: n. 1) failure to perform an act agreed to, where t ... of contract negligence reformation
promissory note :: n. a written promise by a person (variously called ... lso: interest obligee obligor usury
priority :: n. the right to be first or ahead of the rights or ... (in the "race to the courthouse").
mortgage :: n. a document in which the owner pledges his/her/i ... losure notice of default trust deed
jurat :: (jur-at) n. Latin for "been sworn," the portion of ... wledgment declaration notary public
lien :: n. any official claim or charge against property o ... ord's lien mechanic's lien mortgage
judicial foreclosure :: n. a judgment by a court in favor of foreclosure o ... deed of trust foreclosure mortgage
judgment creditor :: n. the winning plaintiff in a lawsuit to whom the ... 's rights judgment prevailing party
joint tenancy :: n. a crucial relationship in the ownership of real ... ty property tenancy in common title
life estate :: n. the right to use or occupy real property for on ... hter, Sadie, will own the property.
marketable title :: n. the title to real property which has no encumbr ... e. See also: contract real property
notary public :: n. a person authorized by the state in which the p ... he state which appoints the notary.
notice :: n. 1) information, usually in writing in all legal ... Thirty-day notice three-day notice
muniment of title :: n. documentary evidence of title to real property. ... also: deed quiet title action title
real estate investment trust :: n. nicknamed REIT, a real estate investment organi ... its upon sale-if there is a profit.
metes and bounds :: (meets and bounds) n. a surveyor's description of ... of a parcel or lot are first drawn.
notice of default :: n. a notice to a borrower with property as securit ... notice of default. See also: notice
remainder :: n. in real property law, the interest in real prop ... ed reversion title vested remainder
subject to :: adj. referring to the acquisition of title to real ... : assumption deed of trust mortgage
subordination agreement :: n. a written contract in which a lender who has se ... ty records. See also: subordination
springing interest :: n. a future right to title to real property create ... lso: future interest interest title
senior lien :: n. the first security interest (lien or claim) pla ... rtgage race to the courthouse UCC-1
seisin :: (sees-in) n. an old feudal term for having both po ... perty). See also: fee simple seized
tenement :: n. 1) a term found in older deeds or in boiler-pla ... d by stairways. See also: structure
title :: n. 1) ownership of real property or personal prope ... ink slip real property title search
uxor :: n. Latin for "wife." In deeds and documents the te ... man and not worthy of being named.
vested remainder :: n. the absolute right to receive title after a pre ... pass to him. See also: vest vested
title search :: n. the examination of county records for the prope ... e escrow lien title title insurance
title report :: n. the written analysis of the status of title to ... lso: abstract title title insurance
title insurance :: n. a policy issued by an insurance company guarant ... : chain of title title title search
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
joint :: adj., adv. referring to property, rights or obliga ... ncy joint venture tenancy in common
reservation :: n. a provision in a deed which keeps (reserves) to ... reserves lot 5." See also: reserve
reentry :: n. taking back possession and going into real prop ... ages. See also: landlord and tenant
recording acts :: n. the statutes of each state which established th ... ecorders of Deeds. See also: record
record :: 1) v. (ree-cored) to put a document into the offic ... eeding race to the courthouse trial
restraint on alienation :: n. an attempt in a deed or will to prevent the sal ... enant rule against perpetuities use
restrictive covenant :: n. 1) an agreement included in a deed to real prop ... o: covenant that runs with the land
satisfaction of mortgage :: n. a document signed by a lender acknowledging tha ... id off the debt. See also: mortgage
satisfaction of judgment :: n. a document signed by a judgment creditor (the p ... ord. See also: abstract of judgment
rule against perpetuities :: n. the legal prohibition against tying up property ... . See also: restraint on alienation
reversion :: n. in real property, the return to the grantor or ... lled "reverter." See also: reverter
reconveyance :: n. in those states which use deeds of trust as a m ... conveyance. See also: deed of trust
immaterial :: adj. a commonly heard objection to introducing evi ... ons. See also: irrelevant objection
conveyance :: n. a generic term for any written document which t ... r Recorder of Deeds. See also: deed
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
contingent interest :: n. an interest in real property which, according t ... ontingent remainder future interest
confidential relation :: n. a relationship in which one person has confiden ... remely obvious. See also: fiduciary
covenant :: 1) n. a promise in a written contract or a deed of ... o compete deed restrictive covenant
covenant that runs with the land :: n. a promise contained in a deed to land or real e ... l future owners. See also: covenant
defective :: adj. not being capable of fulfilling its function, ... t. See also: defect defective title
defective title :: n. an apparent title to real property which fails ... so: chain of title defect defective
defect :: n. an imperfection, quite often so great that the ... See also: defective defective title
defeasance :: n. an antiquated word for a document which termina ... d or contract if some event occurs.
default :: 1) n. failure to respond to a summons and complain ... default judgment notice of default
condition subsequent :: n. 1) in a contract, a happening which terminates ... Dad Fauntleroy. See also: condition
condition precedent :: n. 1) in a contract, an event which must take plac ... o the property. See also: condition
after-acquired property :: n. 1) personal or real property acquired by a debt ... lso: bankruptcy secured transaction
after-acquired title :: n. title to property acquired after the owner atte ... ed title goes automatically to Sam.
acknowledgment :: n. the section at the end of a document where a no ... me leases and various other papers.
acknowledge :: v. 1) generally to admit something, whether bad, g ... recording. See also: acknowledgment
abstract of title :: n. the written report on a title search which show ... e also: chain of title title report
attorney-in-fact :: n. someone specifically named by another through a ... cument. See also: power of attorney
bail bond :: n. a bond provided by an insurance company through ... urned. See also: bail bail bondsman
color of title :: n. the appearance of having title to personal or r ... rty based on this "color of title."
cloud on title (cloud) :: n. an actual or apparent outstanding claim on the ... ion reconveyance title title report
closing :: n. the final step in the sale and purchase of real ... company, escrow holder or attorney.
chain of title :: n. the succession of title ownership to real prope ... title conveyance foreclosure title
deficiency judgment :: n. a judgment for an amount not covered by the val ... o: foreclosure judicial foreclosure
delivery :: n. the actual handing to another of an object, mon ... rties. See also: contract deed sale
good title :: n. ownership of real property which is totally fre ... or deed of trust on the property).
grantor-grantee index :: n. a set of books and/or computerized lists found ... ument in tracking a chain of title.
free and clear :: adj. referring to the ownership of real property u ... the title has no claim against it.
fraud in the inducement :: n. the use of deceit or trick to cause someone to ... nt. See also: extrinsic fraud fraud
fraud :: n. the intentional use of deceit, a trick or some ... audulent conveyance intrinsic fraud
harmless error :: n. an error by a judge in the conduct of a trial w ... ar to be harmless." See also: error
hereditament :: n. any kind of property which can be inherited. Th ... till found in some wills and deeds.
indenture :: n. a type of real property deed in which two parti ... bind a person to work for another.
instrument :: n. 1) a written legal document such as a contract, ... in an assault (a blunt instrument).
in lieu :: prep. instead. "In lieu taxes" are use taxes paid ... go through the foreclosure process.
implied warranty :: n. an assumption at law that products are "merchan ... er. See also: caveat emptor implied
homestead :: 1) n. the house and lot of a homeowner which the h ... s in "he homesteaded the property."
foreclosure sale :: n. the actual forced sale of real property at a pu ... dicial sale mortgage sheriff's sale
foreclosure :: n. the system by which a party who has loaned mone ... ced sale mortgage notice of default
encumbrance :: (incumbrance)n. a general term for any claim or li ... and must be paid for at some point.
escrow :: 1) n. a form of account held by an "escrow agent" ... w the deal." See also: escrow agent
easement :: n. the right to use the real property of another f ... rstandings at the time of creation.
determinable :: adj. defining something which may be terminated up ... es or no longer lives in the house.
demise :: 1) v. an old-fashioned expression meaning to lease ... r life. 3) n. death. 4) n. failure.
et ux. :: (et uhks) n. abbreviation for the Latin words et u ... ression a chauvinistic anachronism.
exception :: n. 1) a formal objection during trial ("We take ex ... cluded. See also: exception in deed
for value received :: prep. a phrase used in a promissory note, a bill o ... hout stating what that payment was.
fee simple :: n. absolute title to land, free of any other claim ... e:" or similar words. See also: fee
fee :: n. 1) absolute title in land, from old French, fie ... See also: attorney's fee fee simple
executed :: 1) adj. to have been completed. (Example: "it is a ... a death sentence. See also: execute
issue :: 1) n. a person's children or other lineal descenda ... the body incorporation share stock