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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Eannashumiddina's Kudurru 1125 BC, Stone kudurru — Survey rock, Mesopotamia, 1125 BC

Duhaime Lawisms

While you may have your names enrolled among the list of attorneys, and many good, old fashioned friends may call you Esquire, and while you may occupy a seat inside the bar and around the tables there - yet unless you continue to study - unless you appreciate fully the imperious demands of the profession upon its votaries; unless you are able to rise far, very far above mere contentment with your simple admission or a nominal connection with the profession, you will soon find that this title will be about all you will have. G. Wright, law professor, to the graduating class of the Iowa Law School, 1866 (1 W. Jurist 1)).