Glossary of Legal Terms Beginning with A

Duhaime's Law Dictionary

A: Legal definitions for terms and concepts beginning with A

Actio Personalis Moritur Cum Persona: Latin: any right of action dies with the person.
Active Euthanasia: The taking of active measures to cut short the life of a terminally ill patient.
Act of God: An event which is caused solely by the effect of nature or natural causes and without any interference by humans whatsoever.
Actual Total Loss: Property that is completely destroyed, or lost and irretrievable; a term of insurance and maritime law.
Actuary: Professionals uniquely skilled in the application of mathematics to risk management, contingent events and opportunity.
Actus Curiae Neminem Gravabit: Latin: An act of the court shall prejudice no one.
Actus Dei Nemini Facit Injuriam: Latin: An act of God causes legal injury to no one.
Actus Regis Nemini Est Damnosa: Latin: The law will not work a wrong.
Actus Reus: Latin: a prohibited act.
Actus Reus Non Facit Reum Nisi Mens Sit Rea: Latin: conviction of a crime requires proof of a criminal act and intent.
Ad Colligendum Bona: Latin: for the collection of the goods of the deceased.
Ad Damnum: Latin: to the damage.
Addendum: An attachment to a written document.
Addis v Gramophone, the Rule in: A proposal of law that pain and suffering is not compensable for breach of contract.
Ademption: When property identified in a will cannot be given to the beneficiary because it no longer belonged to the deceased at the time of death.
ADEPT - Advanced Dementia Prognostic Tool: A test for patients with mild to advanced dementia designed to estimate skills needed to reside in a nursing home.
Adhesion Contract: A fine-print consumer form contract which is generally given to consumers at point-of-sale, with no opportunity for negotiation as to it's terms, and which, typically, sets out the terms and conditions of the sale to advantage the seller.
Ad Hoc: Latin: limited in time; to this point.
Ad Infinitum: Latin: forever; without limit; indefinitely.
Adjective Law: Procedural law.
Adjourn: The postponement, suspension and interruption of an ongoing hearing or meeting to resume at some future date; to break off for later resumption.
Adjudicative Fact: Basic, core facts that must be proven by a party.
Adjuster: A representative or agent of the insurer who attempts to quantify or otherwise determine the extent of the insurer's liability for loss when a claim is submitted.
Ad Litem: Latin: for the suit.
Adminiculum: Latin: some evidence tendered to support something else
Administration of Justice: The personnel, activity and structure of the justice system - courts and police - in the detection, investigation, apprehension, interviewing and trial of persons suspected of crime.
Administrative Law: That body of law which applies for hearings before quasi-judicial or quasi-judicial organizations such as administrative tribunals, or the underlying regulatory agency.
Administrative Tribunal: Hybrid adjudicating authorities which render judicial decisions.
Administrator: A person who manages (administers) the assets of another, such as an estate administrator or the administrator of an insurance plan.
Admiralty: Law or judicial body having to do with, or jurisdiction over, shipping and use of the sea.
Adoption: To take as one's own.
Adoption of Convenience: An adoption of a child not for the sake of the child but to the convenience, usually financial, of the adopting parent(s).
Ad Proximum Antecedens Fiat Relatio Nisi Impediatur Sententia: Latin: relative words must ordinarily be referred to the last antecedent, the last antecedent being the last word which can be made an antecedent so as to give a meaning.
Ad Quaestionem Facti Non Respondent Judices, Ad Quaestionem Juris Non Respondent Juratores: Latin: The judge instructs on points of law and the jury decides matters of fact.
Adult: An individual who has reached, or is over the age of majority.
Adult Child: A son or daughter who has reached the age of majority.
Adultery: Voluntary sexual intercourse between a married person and another person who is not their married spouse.
Adult Guardianship: The body of law as related to the investigation into the ability of an adult to manage his or her person or affairs, and the resultant guardianship.
Adult Interdependent Partner: A statutory term for individuals within a common-law relationship.
Advanced Health Care Directive: A document which includes directions about preferences for health care treatment.
Adverse Possession: The possession of land, without legal title, for a period of time sufficient to become recognized as legal owner.
Adverse Witness: The right of a party calling a witness to show that the witness made a prior inconsistent statement.
Advocate: The Scottish law term for a barrister; one who argues cases for clients before the Court.
Aequum et bonum: Latin: what is right and just..
Affiant: A person that is sworn to an affidavit; who gives evidence by way of an affidavit.
Affidavit: A written statement of fact which has been verified as truthful by the mechanism of a solemn process before another party.
Affirmative Action: A reverse discrimination law, program or activity that has as its object the amelioration of conditions of individuals who are socially or economically disadvantaged.
Affirmative Defense: A reply to a claim which alleges facts from which it results that, notwithstanding the truth of the allegations of the complaint, no cause of action exists.
Affray: A fight between two or more persons in a public place so as to cause terror to the public.
Affreightment: A transportation contract whereby a transportation company, shipowner or operator agrees to carry goods in return for a sum of money, the sum being paid called freight.

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