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I

Legal definitions for terms and concepts beginning with I
Immunity
An exemption that a person (individual or corporate) enjoys from the normal operation of the law such as a legal duty or liability, either criminal or civil. - (see definition)
Immovable
Land and fixtures thereto, civil law term. - (see definition)
Impaired
A deterioration of an individual’s judgment and decrease in his or her’s physical ability. Used primarily in criminal law; driving under the influence of alcohol or disability law in regards to a person’s physical or mental impairment. - (see definition)
In Camera
A closed and private session of Court or some other deliberating body. - (see definition)
Incorporeal
Legal rights which are intangible such as copyrights or patents. - (see definition)
Incorporeal Hereditament
An intangible right which is attached to property and which is inheritable. - (see definition)
Indefeasible
A right or title in property that cannot be made void, defeated or canceled by any past event, error or omission in the title. - (see definition)
Indemnity
Contract with a third-party to perform another's obligations if called upon to do so by the third-party, whether the other has defaulted or not. - (see definition)
Indictable offence
An offence which, in Canada, is more serious than those which can proceed by summary conviction. - (see definition)
Indictment
The formal document that charges a person with a crime. It is on the basis of an indictment that an accused person must stand trial. - (see definition)
Indigenous
Native to a particular territory. - (see definition)
Indigent
A poor person; not penniless but in need and who has no financial support from any other. - (see definition)
Infanticide
Murder of an infant soon after its birth. - (see definition)
Injunction
A court order that prohibits a party from doing something (restrictive injunction) or compels them to do something (mandatory injunction). - (see definition)
In limine
Latin: at the beginning or on the threshold. - (see definition)
Innocent Passage
A term of international maritime law referring to a ship's right to enter and pass through a coastal state's territorial waters so long as it is not prejudicial to the peace, good order or security of the coastal state. - (see definition)
In pari delicto
Latin: both parties are equally at fault. - (see definition)
In personam
Latin: All legal rights are either in personam or in rem. An in personam right is a personal right attached to a specific person. In rem rights are property rights and enforceable against the entire world. - (see definition)
In rem
Latin: All legal rights are either in personam or in rem. In rem rights are proprietary in nature; related to the ownership of property and not based on any personal relationship, as is the case with in personam rights. - (see definition)
Insanity
Disorder which impairs the human mind and prevents a person from awareness that his act was wrong. - (see definition)
Insider Trading
Participation by corporate officers, directors or employees in the trade of a stock based on confidential or privileged corporate information, knowing that information to be confidential, and seeking thereby to acquire profits or avoid losses on the stock market. - (see definition)
Insolence
Insulting a supervisor at the workplace or within an employment contract. - (see definition)
Insolvent
A person not able to pay his or her debts as they become due. 'Insolvency' is a prerequisite to bankruptcy. - (see definition)
Insubordination
Willful failure to obey a supervisor's lawful orders. - (see definition)
Insurance
Where a persons agrees, for consideration, to pay a certain amount on the occurrence of a specified event. - (see definition)
Intellectual Property
As a type of property, intellectual property has that unique characteristic of being ethereal; of the mind, intangible, with no corporeal existence; hence, 'intellectual property'. - (see definition)
Intentional Tort
Torts actionable upon evidence of an intent to cause harm on another, such as assault, trespass, false imprisonment, private nuisance, defamation or invasion of privacy. - (see definition)
Inter alia
Latin: 'among other things', 'for example' or 'including'. - (see definition)
Interim order
A temporary court order; intended to be of limited duration, usually just until the court has had an opportunity of hearing the full case and make a final order. - (see definition)
Interlineation
An addition of something to a document after it has been signed. Such additions are ignored unless they are initialed by the signatories and, if applicable, witnesses (eg. wills). - (see definition)
Interlocutory
Proceedings taken during the course of, and incidental to a trial. - (see definition)
Interlocutory injunction
An injunction which lasts only until the end of the trial during which the injunction was sought. - (see definition)
Interloper
A person who, without legal right, runs a business (eg. without mandatory licenses), or who wrongfully interferes or intercepts another's business. - (see definition)
International law
A combination of treaties and customs which regulates the conduct of states amongst themselves. The highest judicial authority of international law is the International Court of Justice and the administrative authority is the United Nations. - (see definition)
Internet
A global computer network. - (see definition)
Inter partes
Latin: between parties. - (see definition)
Inter se
Inter se - as between or amongst themselves. As between the parties. - (see definition)
Inter vivos
Latin: from one living person to another living person. - (see definition)
Intestate
Dying without a will. - (see definition)
Inure
To take effect, to result; to come into operation. - (see definition)
IOU
A written acknowledgment of a debt. - (see definition)
Islamic law
The law according to the Muslim faith and as interpreted from the Koran. - (see definition)

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Unless otherwise noted, this article was written by Lloyd Duhaime, Barrister, Solicitor, Attorney and Lawyer (and Notary Public!). It is not intended to be legal advice and you would be foolhardy to rely on it in respect to any specific situation you or an acquaintance may be facing. In addition, the law changes rapidly and sometimes with little notice so from time to time, an article may not be up to date. Therefore, this is merely legal information designed to educate the reader. If you have a real situation, this information will serve as a good springboard to get legal advice from a lawyer.

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