F Legal definitions for terms and concepts beginning with F Forage The act of searching for provisions. Force Majeure French for an act of God; an inevitable, unpredictable act of nature, not dependent on an act of man. Foreclosure The sale of real property secured by a mortgage, in order to satisfy an outstanding loan. Forensic Anthropology The scientific study and analysis of human remains. Forestalling The purchase of food products before it arrives, or as as it comes to a food market, with the intent to sell the same again at a higher price. Forfeiture Seizure of private property because it was illegally obtained, is an illegal substance or the legal basis for possession has ended. Forgery The making of a false document knowing it to be false with intent that it should be used or acted on as genuine to the prejudice of another. Formal Reciprocity A form of international agreement wherein the signatories agree to give each other's citizens and corporations legal treatment no less favourable to that given to their own citizens and corporations. Forum Conveniens The court or forum most suitable for the ends of justice. Forward Contract An agreement to buy or sell a specified thing at a fixed price at some future date. Fourteenth Amendment A 1868, post-USA civil war amendment to the US Constitution designed to, inter alia, give full civil and legal rights to former slaves. Fourth Amendment US constitutional protection against unreasonable search or arrest. Franchise A licensing contract in which a holder of certain legal rights gives another to sell or package those rights. Franchisee The person who receives, for consideration, the license to right to sell a product or service and to operate a business along the lines developed by the franchisor and using the franchisor's trade name or other designation. Franchisor The legal rights holder who licenses, in whole or in part, those legal rights to another pursuant to a franchise agreement. Frankpledge A community pledge in medieval England whereby a defined number of people were jointly held responsible for the denunciation of any crime within their group. Fraud Deceitful or deceptive conduct designed to manipulate another person to give something of value. Fraudulent Conveyance A transfer of an interest in property done with intent to defeat creditors or others of their just and lawful entitlements. Freebase Cocaine which has been purified by dissolving in a heated solvent, and then burned and the fumes inhaled. Freedom of Contract That men and women have the liberty of contracting as they see fit with the expectation that those contracts will be judicially enforced if necessary, subject only to public policy. Freedom of Expression Freedom to communicate ideas without restraint, whether orally or in print or by other means of communication. Freehold Use of real estate for an indeterminate time. Freight The money paid by a person for the transportation of goods. Fresh Evidence Evidence that existed at the time of the trial, but for various reasons could not be put before the court. Friendly Society A form of corporate structure in the United Kingdom for the conduct of life or health insurance, pension fund or education-related business. Fruit of the Poisonous Tree Doctrine Bars the admission of physical evidence and live testimony obtained directly or indirectly through the exploitation of unconstitutional police conduct. Frustration The inability to complete a contract because the object of it has been lost or fundamentally changed. Fuck To denunciate something, or a general swear word without necessarily referring to sex. Fugitive One who runs away to avoid arrest, prosecution or imprisonment. Functus Officio Latin: an officer or agency whose mandate has expired either because of the arrival of an expiry date or because an agency has accomplished the purpose for which it was created. Funeral Formal observances held for a deceased person, usually before burial or cremation. Fungibles Standard commercial movable things that are sold by measure, number or weight. Furiosi Nulla Voluntas Est Latin: mentally impaired persons cannot validly sign a commit their will. Furtum Latin: theft or a thing stolen.. Page1 (Fa - Fo) | Page2 (Fo - Fu) Find you are constantly looking up definitions? Try our search provider (works in most modern browsers) If you find an error or omission in Duhaime's Legal Dictionary, or if you have legal term suggestion, we'd love to hear from you!