Dictionary of Law
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swear :: legal definition


Swear - v. 1) to declare under oath that one will tell the truth (sometimes "the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth"). Failure to tell the truth and do so knowingly is the crime of perjury. 2) to administer an oath to a witness that he/she will tell the truth, which is done by a notary public, a court clerk, a court reporter or anyone authorized by law to administer oaths. 3) to install into office by administering an oath. 4) to use profanity.

See also: notary public oath perjury and Related Law Terms ↓


Related Law Terms

acknowledgment :: n. the section at the end of a document where a no ... me leases and various other papers.
administrator :: n. the person appointed by the court to handle the ... e also: administer executor probate
affidavit :: n. 1) any written document in which the signer swe ... an affidavit. See also: declaration
gag order :: n. a judge's order prohibiting the attorneys and t ... st day in office, January 22, 1993.
jurat :: (jur-at) n. Latin for "been sworn," the portion of ... wledgment declaration notary public
mandate :: n. 1) any mandatory order or requirement under sta ... See also: mandamus writ of mandate
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
oath :: n. 1) a swearing to tell the truth, the whole trut ... ountry. See also: affidavit perjury
petition :: 1) n. a formal written request to a court for an o ... dent. See also: divorce motion writ
prior restraint :: n. an attempt to prevent publication or broadcast ... e words of Sir William Blackstone).
venue :: n. 1) the proper or most convenient location for t ... ion. See also: forum non conveniens

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