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

general appearance :: legal definition


General appearance - n. an attorney's representation of a client in court for all purposes connected with a pending lawsuit or prosecution. After "appearing" in court, the attorney is then responsible for all future appearances in court unless officially relieved by court order or substitution of another attorney. A lawyer may be leery of making a general appearance unless all details of representation (such as the amount and payment of his/her fees) have been worked out with the client. This is distinguished from a special appearance, which is only for a particular purpose or court session and does not make the attorney responsible for future conduct of the case.

See also: special appearance and Related Law Terms ↓


Related Law Terms

abuse of discretion :: n. a polite way of saying a trial judge has made s ... partner's realistic ability to pay.
ad litem :: adj. legal Latin meaning "for the purposes of the ... of age. See also: guardian ad litem
adjuster :: n. an employee (usually a non-lawyer) of an insura ... e company in approving settlements.
admission to bail :: n. an order of a court in a criminal case allowing ... lient. See also: bail bail bondsman
answer :: n. in law, a written pleading filed by a defendant ... emurrer general denial verification
appeal :: 1) v. to ask a higher court to reverse the decisio ... ng, as in "he has filed an appeal."
appearance :: n. the act of a party or an attorney showing up in ... neral appearance special appearance
arbitrator :: n. one who conducts an arbitration, and serves as ... he other two. See also: arbitration
attorney :: n. 1) an agent or someone authorized to act for an ... ialize. See also: court reciprocity
Attorney General :: n. in each state and the federal government the hi ... izenry. See also: Solicitor General
attorney of record :: n. the attorney who has appeared in court and/or s ... eve have long since been completed.
attorney-in-fact :: n. someone specifically named by another through a ... cument. See also: power of attorney
bail :: 1) n. the money or bond put up to secure the relea ... bond bail bondsman own recognizance
bankruptcy :: n. a federal system of statutes and courts which p ... y proceedings trustee in bankruptcy
bar examination :: n. the examination given in each state by either t ... n that district. See also: attorney
benefit of counsel :: n. having the opportunity to have an attorney and ... attorney is the person's own fault.
child custody :: n. a court's determination of which parent, relati ... pport custody divorce joint custody
citation :: n. 1) a notice to appear in court due to the proba ... se is not in point." See also: cite
clerk :: n. 1) an official or employee who handles the busi ... stocking shelves, or counter sales.
competent :: adj. 1) in general, able to act in the circumstanc ... all bases. See also: evidence will
complaint :: n. the first document filed with the court (actual ... g prayer service of process summons
contempt of court :: n. there are essentially two types of contempt: a) ... roduce evidence. See also: sanction
contractor :: n. 1) a person or entity that enters into a contra ... actor mechanic's lien subcontractor
corporation :: n. an organization formed with state governmental ... ation public corporation securities
court :: n. 1) the judge, as in "The court rules in favor o ... cost and wait of full court trials.
court-martial :: 1) n. a military court for trying offenses in viol ... the U.S. Court of Military Appeals.
damages :: n. the amount of money which a plaintiff (the pers ... liquidated damages special damages
default :: 1) n. failure to respond to a summons and complain ... default judgment notice of default
deposition :: n. the taking and recording of testimony of a witn ... See also: deponent depose discovery
disbar :: v. to remove an attorney from the list of practici ... legal ethics. (See moral turpitude
examination :: n. 1) the questioning of a witness by an attorney. ... irect examination testimony witness
excessive bail :: n. an amount of bail ordered posted by an accused ... ppeal for reduction. See also: bail
file :: 1) v. to deposit with the clerk of the court a wri ... rrespondence and notes on the case.
general partner :: n. 1) usually one of the owners and operators of a ... ted partnership partner partnership
Grand Jury :: n. a jury in each county or federal court district ... arge indictment preliminary hearing
indigent :: 1) n. a person so poor and needy that he/she canno ... person who is very poor and needy.
indispensable party :: n. a person or entity which must be included in a ... tion to join Olivia as a defendant.
joint and several :: adj. referring to a debt or a judgment for neglige ... ution contributory negligence joint
jump bail :: v. to fail to appear for a court appearance after ... also: bail bail bond bail bondsman
justice :: n. 1) fairness. 2) moral rightness. 3) a scheme or ... e appellate courts. See also: court
liability :: n. one of the most significant words in the field ... bility joint tortfeasors negligence
libel :: 1) n. to publish in print (including pictures), wr ... libel per se public figure slander
limited partnership :: n. a special type of partnership which is very com ... mited liability partner partnership
mechanic's lien :: n. the right of a craftsman, laborer, supplier, ar ... ll sue for the debt. See also: lien
negligence :: n. failure to exercise the care toward others whic ... gence per se res ipsa loquitur tort
notice :: n. 1) information, usually in writing in all legal ... Thirty-day notice three-day notice
nunc pro tunc :: (nuhnk proh tuhnk) adj. Latin for "now for then," ... r actuality of a bigamous marriage.
officer of the court :: n. any person who has an obligation to promote jus ... also: attorney bailiff clerk judge
pain and suffering :: n. the physical and mental distress suffered from ... l damages special damages suffering
partner :: n. 1) one of the co-owners and investors in a "par ... ner limited partnership partnership
partnership :: n. a business enterprise entered into for profit w ... partnership partner silent partner
plea :: n. 1) in criminal law, the response by an accused ... raignment plead preliminary hearing
privileged communication :: n. statements and conversations made under circums ... See also: attorney-client privilege
process :: n. in law, the legal means by which a person is re ... service of process subpena summons
product liability :: n. the responsibility of manufacturers, distributo ... e known. See also: warrant warranty
prosecute :: v. 1) in criminal law, to charge a person with a c ... rney General prosecution prosecutor
prosecutor :: n. generic term for the government's attorney in a ... ee also: Attorney General prosecute
review :: n. the judicial consideration of a lower court jud ... ate court reversal reversible error
sanction :: n. 1) a financial penalty imposed by a judge on a ... ction." See also: contempt of court
settlement :: n. the resolution of a lawsuit (or of a legal disp ... ult in settlement. See also: settle
Solicitor General :: n. the chief trial attorney in the federal Departm ... Attorney General in the Department.
special appearance :: n. the representation by an attorney of a person i ... anged. See also: general appearance
special damages :: n. damages claimed and/or awarded in a lawsuit whi ... . See also: damages general damages
special master :: n. a person appointed by the court to carry out an ... ting to the judge. See also: master
special prosecutor :: n. an attorney from outside of the government sele ... Robert Bork finally discharged Cox.
statute of limitations :: n. a law which sets the maximum period which one c ... ies. See also: demurrer laches toll
subpena :: (subpoena): (suh-pea-nah) n. an order of the court ... ubpena duces tecum subpoena witness
warrant :: 1) n. an order (writ) of a court which directs a l ... e search and seizure search warrant

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 - G

gag order :: n. a judge's order prohibiting the attorneys and t ... st day in office, January 22, 1993.
garnish :: v. to obtain a court order directing a party holdi ... ed. See also: garnishee garnishment
garnishee :: n. a person or entity, quite often a bank or emplo ... ourt. See also: garnish garnishment
garnishment :: n. the entire process of petitioning for and getti ... heriff. See also: garnish garnishee
gender bias :: n. unequal treatment in employment opportunity (su ... statutes. See also: discrimination
general appearance :: n. an attorney's representation of a client in cou ... case. See also: special appearance
general counsel :: n. the chief attorney for a corporation, who is pa ... e counsel." See also: house counsel
general damages :: n. monetary recovery (money won) in a lawsuit for ... s exemplary damages special damages
general denial :: n. a statement in an answer to a lawsuit or claim ... anguage. See also: answer complaint
general partner :: n. 1) usually one of the owners and operators of a ... ted partnership partner partnership
general plan :: n. a plan of a city, county or area which establis ... uture development. See also: zoning
generation skipping :: adj., adv. referring to gifts made through trusts ... to a grandchild without a gift tax.
gift :: n. the voluntary transfer of property (including m ... ift tax unified estate and gift tax
gift in contemplation of death :: n. (called a gift causa mortis by lawyers showing ... ift tax unified estate and gift tax
gift tax :: n. federal tax on large gifts. Gifts to members of ... ance in gift tax planning is vital.
go bail :: v. slang for putting up the bail money to get an a ... arrest or pending trial or appeal.
good cause :: n. a legally sufficient reason for a ruling or oth ... od cause shown, the court orders:."
good faith :: n. honest intent to act without taking an unfair a ... plied to all kinds of transactions.
Good Samaritan rule :: n. from a Biblical story, if a volunteer comes to ... a lawsuit for millions of dollars.
good title :: n. ownership of real property which is totally fre ... or deed of trust on the property).