N
Legal definitions for terms and concepts beginning with N

Name
A unique combination of a given and a surname, assigned to an individual, generally at birth, and used to identify distinguish that individual both socially and in regards to the assertion or defence of legal rights.
Narcolepsy
A condition in which a person has an overwhelming need to sleep and will fall asleep virtually at any time of day or any place
Nashiza
Muslim law: a disobedient wife.
Nation
A distinct group or race of people that share history, traditions and culture.
National Emergency
A situation beyond the ordinary which threatens the health or safety of citizens and which cannot be properly addressed by the use of other law.
National Interest
A matter which has or could have impact upon all other members of society.
National Treatment
A tenet of international trade agreements whereby nations must afford imported goods the same treatment that they afford domestic or national products (no discrimination).
Natural Fool
A human being in form but destitute of reason from birth.
Natural Justice
Basic or fundamental judicial rights extended to a person with rights at issue.
Natural Law
The natural rights of mankind.
NCND Agreement
An international trade instrument; non circumvention/non disclosure agreement used in the preliminary stages of a business transaction where the Seller and Buyer do not know each other, but are brought into contact with each other by one or more intermediaries (also known as brokers or middlemen), to fulfill the transaction.
Necessaries of Life
A product or service sold or provided to an individual not legally competent, which are useful to his or her comfort or convenience taking into account the age and condition of the individual.
Necessitas Indicit Privilegium Quoad Jura Privata
From necessity spring privileges upon private rights.
Necessity
A defense or excuse from conviction of a crime committed.
Necrophilia
A psychosexual disorder, sexual relations with a corpse.
Negligence
A breach of a duty to take care.
Negotiable Instrument
A document of an amount of money, or a title, which is readily transferable to another.
Negotiate
To communicate on a matter of disagreement between two parties, with a view to first listen to the other party's perspective and to then attempt to arrive at a resolution by consensus.
Negotiation
Discussion for the purposes of exploring and arriving at an agreement.
Negro
Black-skinned inhabitants of tropical Africa or their descendants.
Nemo Debet Bis Vexari Pro Una Et Eadem Causa
Latin: No-one shall be tried or punished twice in regards to the same event.
Nemo Debet Locupletari Ex Aliena Jactura
Latin: no one should be enriched by another's loss.
Nemo Judex In Parte Sua
Latin: no person can judge a case in which he or she is party or in which he/she has an interest.
Nerve Center Test
A judicial analysis used to determine a corporation's real place of business where activities are decentralized; the focus is locating where the corporation's overall policy originates.
Nervous Shock
A recognizable psychiatric illness caused by the breach of duty.
Neuroleptic
Anti-psychotic, tranquilizing pharmaceutical products used in the treatment of some mental illnesses such as, but not limited to, schizophrenia.
Neutral Citation
A legal citation unique to cases issued from a particular court with numbering assigned sequentially, and designed for electronic database and Internet cataloging retrieval.
Neutrality
A state's declared impartiality and non-interference in the declared or de facto war of other states.
New Evidence
Evidence of matters that occurred subsequent to the order appealed from.
Next of Kin
The nearest blood relative of a deceased.
Nikah
Muslim law: marriage.
Nisi Prius
Latin: a civil jury trial.
Nolle Prosequi
Latin: no prosecution.
Nolo Contendere
Latin: I will not defend.
Nominative Fair Use
The use of another's trademark to identify a thing and does not imply current sponsorship or endorsement.
Non-compete Agreement
An agreement on the part of a departing employee restricting, in some way, same-industry employment.
Non Compos Mentis
Latin: Not of sound mind.
Nondisclosure Agreement
A contract between the holder of confidential information and another person to whom that information is disclosed, prohibiting that other person from disclosing the confidential information to any other party.
Non Est Factum
Latin for not his deed and a special defense in contract law to allow a person to avoid having to respect a contract that she or he signed because of certain reasons such as a mistake as to the kind of contract.
Nonfeasance
Not doing something that a person should be doing.
Non-joinder
When a person, who should have been made a party to a legal proceedings, has been forgotten or omitted.
Non-profit
Operated as nearly as possible at cost; an organization not seeking profit and which does not disgorge excess income to its members, in the form of dividends or otherwise.
Non Sequitur
Latin: it does not follow.
Norwich Order
Pre-action third party discovery to an intended plaintiff without notice to the intended defendant.
Noscitur a sociis
Latin: that the meaning of a word may be known from accompanying words.
Notary
A legal officer with specific judicial authority to attest to legal documents usually with an official seal.
Not For Profit
Operated as nearly as possible at cost; on a cost-recovery basis; an organization not seeking profit and which does not disgorge excess income to its members, in the form of dividends or otherwise.
Notice of Motion
A formal notice to participants in litigation of an intent to seek specific relief in an action.
Notional Severance
Reading down a contractual provision so as to make it legal and enforceable.
Notwithstanding
In spite of, even if, without regard to or impediment by other things.
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