Dictionary of Law
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incest :: legal definition


Incest - n. sexual intercourse between close blood relatives, including brothers and sisters, parents and children, grandparents and grandchildren, or aunts or uncles with nephews or nieces. It is a crime in all states, even if consensual by both parties. However, it is often co-existent with sexual abuse since usually the younger person is a victim of the predatory sexual activities of an older relative. Recently, it has drawn more attention as people began talking about the "silent crime," which is often covered up by a wife fearful of losing a husband, or the memory has been suppressed by the youthful victims. One problem is that on the surface the family may appear to be "All-American" while abusive incest continues. In 18 states incest also includes copulation or cohabitation between first cousins, but the majority of jurisdictions permit marriage between such cousins. The rationale for prohibition of first cousin marriages is not so much moral as the fear of proliferation of mental or physical weakness due to the joining of recessive family genes carrying such weaknesses.


Related Law Terms

abuse of discretion :: n. a polite way of saying a trial judge has made s ... partner's realistic ability to pay.
adoption :: n. the taking of a child into one's family, creati ... the child are met. See also: adopt
Attorney General :: n. in each state and the federal government the hi ... izenry. See also: Solicitor General
capital offense :: n. any criminal charge which is punishable by the ... . See also: bail capital punishment
civil :: adj. 1) that part of the law that encompasses busi ... also: civil liberties civil rights
community property :: n. property and profits received by a husband and ... and distribution separate property
constitutional rights :: n. rights given or reserved to the people by the U ... e also: Bill of Rights constitution
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
court :: n. 1) the judge, as in "The court rules in favor o ... cost and wait of full court trials.
crime against nature :: n. an oldfashioned term for sodomy (anal sexual in ... states. See also: bestiality sodomy
eminent domain :: n. the power of a governmental entity (federal, st ... ngs. See also: condemn condemnation
equal opportunity :: 1) n. a right supposedly guaranteed by both federa ... be so. See also: affirmative action
extradition :: n. the surrender by one state or country of a pers ... ty. See also: fugitive from justice
false arrest :: n. physically detaining someone without the legal ... sment. See also: false imprisonment
felony :: n. 1) a crime sufficiently serious to be punishabl ... ion. See also: misdemeanor sentence
fugitive from justice :: n. a person convicted or accused of a crime who hi ... extradition. See also: extradition
grand larceny :: n. the crime of theft of another's property (inclu ... f the loot. See also: larceny theft
harass :: (either harris or huh-rass) v. systematic and/or c ... also: harassment sexual harassment
harassment :: (either harris-meant or huh-rass-meant) n. the act ... See also: harass sexual harassment
incorporate :: v. 1) to obtain an official charter or articles of ... te by reference incorporation stock
jurisdiction :: n. the authority given by law to a court to try ca ... Superior Court Supreme Court venue
juvenile delinquent :: n. a person who is under age (usually below 18), w ... low as 14. See also: juvenile court
marriage :: n. the joining of a male and female in matrimony b ... of time without legal formalities.
murder :: n. the killing of a human being by a sane person, ... premeditation second degree murder
negligence :: n. failure to exercise the care toward others whic ... gence per se res ipsa loquitur tort
no fault insurance :: n: a type of automobile insurance required of car ... ling lawsuits. See also: negligence
not guilty :: n. 1) plea of a person who claims not to have comm ... t guilty by reason of insanity plea
police powers :: n. from the 10th Amendment to the Constitution, wh ... host of state regulatory statutes.
prosecute :: v. 1) in criminal law, to charge a person with a c ... rney General prosecution prosecutor
prostitution :: n. the profession of performing sexual acts for mo ... so: pander panderer pimp prostitute
rape :: 1) n. the crime of sexual intercourse (with actual ... See also: date rape statutory rape
regulations :: n. rules and administrative codes issued by govern ... es usually have similar procedures.
reports :: n. the published decisions of appeals courts in al ... ilable in almost all law libraries.
robbery :: n. 1) the direct taking of property (including mon ... We've been robbed." See also: theft
sentence :: 1) n. the punishment given to a person convicted o ... ence restitution suspended sentence
separate property :: n. in community property states (California, Texas ... pouse. See also: community property
sodomy :: n. anal copulation by a man inserting his penis in ... tiality). See also: bestiality rape
tort :: n. from French for "wrong," a civil wrong or wrong ... nce slander trespass wrongful death
vehicular manslaughter :: n. the crime of causing the death of a human being ... gence manslaughter reckless driving
will :: n. a written document which leaves the estate of t ... will and testament probate testator

Popular Law Searches

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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 - I

i.e. :: prep. abbreviation for id est, which is Latin for ... "e.g.," which means "for example."
illegal :: 1) adj. in violation of statute, regulation or ord ... . See also: alien illegal immigrant
illegal immigrant :: n. an alien (non-citizen) who has entered the Unit ... ion date of a visa. See also: alien
illusory promise :: n. an agreement to do something that is so indefin ... he may have thought was a contract.
immaterial :: adj. a commonly heard objection to introducing evi ... ons. See also: irrelevant objection
immediately :: adv. 1) at once. 2) in orders of the court or in c ... oon as can be done" without excuse.
immunity :: n. exemption from penalties, payments or legal req ... ws. See also: governmental immunity
impanel :: v. to select and install a jury. See also: impanel ... l a jury. See also: impaneling jury
impaneling :: n. the act of selecting a jury from the list of po ... e juror jury panel venire voir dire
impeach :: v. 1) to discredit the testimony of a witness by p ... ve been found guilty by the Senate.
impeachment :: n. 1) discrediting a witness by showing that he/sh ... the trial itself. See also: impeach
impleader :: n. a procedural device before trial in which a par ... than having two suits in a series.
implied :: adj., adv. referring to circumstances, conduct or ... nt implied consent implied warranty
implied consent :: n. consent when surrounding circumstances exist wh ... aybe" or "later." See also: implied
implied contract :: n. an agreement which is found to exist based on t ... : contract express contract implied
implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing :: n. a general assumption of the law of contracts, t ... -long employment. See also: implied
implied warranty :: n. an assumption at law that products are "merchan ... er. See also: caveat emptor implied
impossibility :: n. when an act cannot be performed due to nature, ... cel) a contract. See also: contract
impotence :: n. the male's inability to copulate. Impotence can ... eans inability to produce children.
impound :: v. 1) to collect funds, in addition to installment ... cases. See also: forfeit forfeiture