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Definitions for legal terms and law concepts beginning with O
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Oath
A religious or solemn affirmation to tell the truth or to take a certain action.Expanded Legal Definition of Oath
Obiter Dictum
Latin: an observation by a judge on a matter not specifically before the court or not necessary in determining the issue before the court.Expanded Legal Definition of Obiter Dictum
Obligations
A legal requirement established by law, contract or as a result of unlawful harm caused to the person or property of another.Expanded Legal Definition of Obligations
Obligee
The person who is to receive the benefit of someone else's obligation.Expanded Legal Definition of Obligee
Obligor
A person who is contractually or legally, committed or obliged, to providing something to another person (the obligee).Expanded Legal Definition of Obligor
Obscenity
A publication which is illegal because it is morally corruptive. Expanded Legal Definition of Obscenity
Obstructing Justice
An act which tends to impede or thwart the administration of justice. Expanded Legal Definition of Obstructing Justice
Occupational Rent
A matrimonial or joint tenant property compensatory claim based on an allegation that one spouse or joint tenant ought to be debited the value of her or his exclusive occupation of the family or jointly-held home.Expanded Legal Definition of Occupational Rent
Occupiers' Liability
Liability of a person who controls land or building(s) in regards to damages caused to others who enter thereon.Expanded Legal Definition of Occupiers' Liability
Offense
A crime; any act which contravenes the criminal law of the state in which it occurs. Spelled offence in Commonwealth countries.Expanded Legal Definition of Offense
Offer
A explicit proposal to contract which, if accepted, completes the contract and binds both the person that made the offer and the person accepting the offer to the terms of the contract.Expanded Legal Definition of Offer
Officially Induced Error
A mistake of law caused by reliance upon erroneous legal advice obtained from an appropriate official.Expanded Legal Definition of Officially Induced Error
Oligarchy
A form of government in which a few persons rule and govern by assuming all legislative and administrative authority.Expanded Legal Definition of Oligarchy
Ombudsman
A person whose occupation consists of investigating customer complaints against his or her employer. Many governments have ombudsmen who will investigate citizen complaints against government services.Expanded Legal Definition of Ombudsman
Omnibus Bill
A draft law before a legislature which contains more than one substantive matter, or several minor matters which have been combined into one bill, ostensibly for the sake of convenience.Expanded Legal Definition of Omnibus Bill
Onus
Latin: the burden. It is usually used in the context of evidence.Expanded Legal Definition of Onus
Open-Ended Agreement
An agreement or contract which does not have an ending date but which will continue for as long as certain conditions, identified in the agreement, exist.Expanded Legal Definition of Open-Ended Agreement
Opening Statement
A lawyer or litigant's initial remarks at trial, to the finder of fact, either a judge or jury, setting out their road-map or case theory.Expanded Legal Definition of Opening Statement
Order
A formal written direction given by a member of the judiciary; a court decision without reasons.Expanded Legal Definition of Order
Ordinance
An executive decision of a government which has not been subjected to a legislative assembly (contrary to a statute).Expanded Legal Definition of Ordinance
Orphan
A person who has lost one or both of his or her natural parents.Expanded Legal Definition of Orphan
Out-of-Court Settlement
An agreement between two litigants to settle a matter privately before the Court has rendered its decision.Expanded Legal Definition of Out-of-Court Settlement
Oversman
The Scottish law term for umpire.Expanded Legal Definition of Oversman
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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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