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P

Definitions for legal terms and law concepts beginning with P
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Panhandle
To beg for money in a public place.Expanded Legal Definition of Panhandle
Paralegal
A person who is not a lawyer or is not acting in that capacity but who provides a limited number of legal services.Expanded Legal Definition of Paralegal
Pardon
A pardon is a government decision to allow a person who has been convicted of a crime, to be free and absolved of that conviction, as if never convicted.Expanded Legal Definition of Pardon
Parens Patriae
Latin: inherent jurisdiction of the courts to make decisions concerning people who are not able to take care of themselves.Expanded Legal Definition of Parens Patriae
Parent
Father or mother or as otherwise may be defined by statute such as through adoption or same-sex relationships. Also, the controlling corporation of another.Expanded Legal Definition of Parent
Parental Alienation
A form of emotional child abuse where a custodial parent belittles or vilifies the other parent to the child.Expanded Legal Definition of Parental Alienation
Pari Delicto
Latin for of equal fault.Expanded Legal Definition of Pari Delicto
Pari Passu
Latin: Equitably and without preference.Expanded Legal Definition of Pari Passu
Parliament
The aggregate or assembly of institutions that comprise the legislative apparatus of government in democratic societies.Expanded Legal Definition of Parliament
Parole
An early release from incarceration in which the prisoner promises to heed certain conditions (usually set by a parole board) and under the supervision of a parole officer.Expanded Legal Definition of Parole
Parol Evidence Rule
Verbal evidence is inadmissible to vary or contradict the terms of a written agreement.Expanded Legal Definition of Parol Evidence Rule
Parricide
Killing one's father or another a family member or close relative.Expanded Legal Definition of Parricide
Partnership
An organization in which two or more persons carry on a business together.Expanded Legal Definition of Partnership
Party Wall
A partition wall; a dividing wall which separates two adjoining real properties.Expanded Legal Definition of Party Wall
Par Value Shares
Shares issued by a company which have a minimum price.Expanded Legal Definition of Par Value Shares
Passing Of Accounts
The formal presentation of a trustee's accounts to a court for approval.Expanded Legal Definition of Passing Of Accounts
Passing-Off
Making some false representation likely to induce a person to believe that the goods or services are those of another.Expanded Legal Definition of Passing-Off
Patent
An exclusive privilege granted to an inventor to make, use or sale an invention for a set number of years.Expanded Legal Definition of Patent
Patentee
A person to whom a patent has been granted; who appears on the official government registry as the patent owner.Expanded Legal Definition of Patentee
Patently Unreasonable
A decision that is clearly irrational; evidently not in accordance with reason.Expanded Legal Definition of Patently Unreasonable
Paternity
Being a father.Expanded Legal Definition of Paternity
Paulian Action
Civil law: a claim by a creditor against a third party to rescind any transfer of property made to the third party by the debtor done to frustrate enforcement of the creditor's debt.Expanded Legal Definition of Paulian Action
Pauper's Oath
An affidavit of indigence, of poverty.Expanded Legal Definition of Pauper's Oath
Payee
The person to whom payment is addressed or given.Expanded Legal Definition of Payee
Payor
The person who makes required payment(s).Expanded Legal Definition of Payor
Peace Bond
A recognizance entered into by an individual in which he commits himself to keep the peace and be of good behaviour, and other conditions, for a specified period of time.Expanded Legal Definition of Peace Bond
Pedastry
A sexual abuse crime wherein an adult male grooms and sexually assaults an adolescent male outside of his family. While promoted by the Greeks, pedastry has been a crime since at least the time of Justinian.Expanded Legal Definition of Pedastry
Pedophile
A person afflicted with pedophilia, a sexual perversion in which a child is the preferred sexual partner.Expanded Legal Definition of Pedophile
Penal Code
A statute which lists and defines prohibited conduct (crimes) and the punishments associated with each.Expanded Legal Definition of Penal Code
Pendente Lite
Latin: during litigation.Expanded Legal Definition of Pendente Lite
Pen Register
An electronic surveillance device which attaches to a phone line and which registers every number dialed from a specific telephone.Expanded Legal Definition of Pen Register
Pension
A private or government fund (or payments therefrom), from which intermittent and regular benefits or allowances are paid to a person upon his or her retirement or disability.Expanded Legal Definition of Pension
Per Capita
Latin: by the head. The proposed distribution of an estate of property to surving specified beneficiaries only and not, in the event of pre-death of the beneficiary, to the heirs of the pre-deceased beneficiary.Expanded Legal Definition of Per Capita
Percolating Water
Water which seeps or filters through the ground without any definite channel and not part of the flow of any waterway (eg. rain water).Expanded Legal Definition of Percolating Water
Peremptory
Final or absolute or not open to challenge.Expanded Legal Definition of Peremptory
Performance Bond
A bond contract wherein the third-party, in exchange for a fee, secures another's fulfillment of, or performance on, a contract.Expanded Legal Definition of Performance Bond
Peril of the Sea
Damage to property occurring as a result of an accident at sea.Expanded Legal Definition of Peril of the Sea
Perjury
An intentional lie given while under oath or in a sworn affidavit. Expanded Legal Definition of Perjury
Permanent Resident
An individual who has status in a country usually less than citizenship but more than just a visitor.Expanded Legal Definition of Permanent Resident
Perpetuating Testimony
The recording of evidence when it is feared that the person with that evidence may soon die or disappear and that this person's evidence, if recorded, could then be used in the future to prevent a possible injustice or to support a future claim of property.Expanded Legal Definition of Perpetuating Testimony
Perpetuity
Forever; of unlimited duration.Expanded Legal Definition of Perpetuity
Per Quod Consortium Amisit
Latin: whereby he loses the company of his wife.Expanded Legal Definition of Per Quod Consortium Amisit
Person
An entity recognized by the law as separate and independent, with legal rights and existence including the ability to sue and be sued, to sign contracts, to receive gifts, to appear in court either by themselves or by lawyer and, generally, other powers incidental to the full expression of the entity in law.Expanded Legal Definition of Person
Personal Property
Chattels, goods, property other than real property.Expanded Legal Definition of Personal Property
Personal Representative
The person who administers the estate of a deceased person as executor or Court-appointed administrator.Expanded Legal Definition of Personal Representative
Per Stirpes
Latin: an entitlement to participate in the distribution of property, such as an estate, that flows down to the named beneficiary's next heir if he or she is otherwise unable to take his or her share.Expanded Legal Definition of Per Stirpes
Petition
The formal, written document submitted to a court, and which asks for the court to redress what is described in the petition as being an injustice of some kind.Expanded Legal Definition of Petition
Pettifogger
A petty or underhanded lawyer or an attorney who sustains a professional livelihood on disreputable or dishonorable business.Expanded Legal Definition of Pettifogger
Petty Offense
A minor crime and for which the punishment is usually just a small fine or short term of imprisonment.Expanded Legal Definition of Petty Offense
Physical Custody
The right to organize and administer the day to day care of a child or a thing.Expanded Legal Definition of Physical Custody
Picket
To object publicly, on or adjacent to the employer's premises, to an employer's labor practices, goods or services. The most common form of picketing is patrolling with signs. Expanded Legal Definition of Picket
Pillory
A medieval punishment and restraining device made of moveable and adjustable boards through which a prisoner's head or limbs were pinned.Expanded Legal Definition of Pillory
Plaintiff
The person who initiates, who brings or files a case with a court; who sues. Expanded Legal Definition of Plaintiff
Plea Bargaining
Negotiations during a criminal trial, between an accused person and a prosecutor in which the accused agrees to admit to a crime (sometimes a lesser crime than the one set out in the original charge), avoiding the expense of a public trial, in exchange for which the prosecutor agrees to ask for a more lenient sentence than would have been recommended if the case had of proceeded to full trial.Expanded Legal Definition of Plea Bargaining
Pleadings
That core document(s) of a party to litigation in which he or she formally sets out the facts and the law which support that party's position.Expanded Legal Definition of Pleadings
Plene Administravit
Latin for administration (is) complete.Expanded Legal Definition of Plene Administravit
Poach
To kill or take an animal or fish from the property of another. Expanded Legal Definition of Poach
Point of Order
A term of parliamentary law and procedure which refers to an interjection during a meeting by a member, who does not have the floor, to call the attention of the chair to an alleged violation or breach of the assembly’s or meeting’s rules of order.Expanded Legal Definition of Point of Order
Pollution
The discharge of a toxic or contaminating substance that is likely to have an adverse effect on the natural environment or life.Expanded Legal Definition of Pollution
Polygamy
Being married to multiple wives or husbands at the same time.Expanded Legal Definition of Polygamy
Polygraph
A lie-detector machine which records even the slightest variation in blood pressure, body temperature and respiration as questions are put to, and answers elicited from a subject.Expanded Legal Definition of Polygraph
Pornography
The portrayal of sexual acts solely for the purpose of sexual arousal.Expanded Legal Definition of Pornography
Positive Law
Law proper, as opposed to moral laws, or to natural/“God-made” law.Expanded Legal Definition of Positive Law
Postal Rule
A rule of contract law that makes an exception to the general rule that an acceptance is only created when communicated directly to the offeror.Expanded Legal Definition of Postal Rule
Postnuptial Agreement
A separation agreement.Expanded Legal Definition of Postnuptial Agreement
Power of Attorney
A document which gives a person the right to make binding decisions for another, as an agent.Expanded Legal Definition of Power of Attorney
Præcipe or Precipe
Latin: traditionally the initiating document would be presented to a court clerk to be officially issued on behalf of the court, but now mostly refers to the covering memo or letter from the lawyer (or plaintiff) which accompanies and formally asks for the writ to be issued by the court officer.Expanded Legal Definition of Præcipe or Precipe
Praemunire
An offence initially to prefer the Pope or his authority as against the King of England or Parliament, but later included a wide assortment of offenses against the King and always leading to serious penalties.Expanded Legal Definition of Praemunire
Preamble
A introductory written statement of facts or assumptions upon which a statute or contract is based.Expanded Legal Definition of Preamble
Precatory Words
Words that express a wish or a desire rather than a clear command. Expanded Legal Definition of Precatory Words
Precedent
A case which establishes legal principles to a certain set of facts, coming to a certain conclusion, and which is to be followed from that point on when similar or identical facts are before a court.Expanded Legal Definition of Precedent
Preferred Shares
A share in a company that has some kind of special right or privilege attached to it, such as that it is distinguished from the company’s common shares.Expanded Legal Definition of Preferred Shares
Preliminary Inquiry
Canada: An initial inquiry that occurs at the demand of an acused wherein a judge screens the proposed criminal charge against the available evidence.Expanded Legal Definition of Preliminary Inquiry
Premises Liability
The liability of an occupier of real property towards injury to others.Expanded Legal Definition of Premises Liability
Preponderance
Evidence that persuades a judge or jury to lean to one side as opposed to the other, during the course of litigation.Expanded Legal Definition of Preponderance
Prescription
A method of acquiring or extinguishing rights through the inaction of the legal owner.Expanded Legal Definition of Prescription
Presumption of Advancement
A presumption in trust, contract and family law which suggests that property transferred from a parent to a child, or spouse to spouse, is a gift and would defeat any presumption of a resulting trust. Expanded Legal Definition of Presumption of Advancement
Presumption of Death
A presumption such that after a number of years, or events, an individual is presumed dead and his estate managed accordingly.Expanded Legal Definition of Presumption of Death
Presumption of Fact
A conclusion of fact constructed logically from other proven facts.Expanded Legal Definition of Presumption of Fact
Presumption of Innocence
A legal presumption that benefits a defendant in a criminal case and which results in acquittal in the event that the prosecutor does not prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.Expanded Legal Definition of Presumption of Innocence
Prima Facie
(Latin) A legal presumption which means on the face of it or at first sight.Expanded Legal Definition of Prima Facie
Primogeniture
Oldest son inherits.Expanded Legal Definition of Primogeniture
Principal
An agent’s master; the person for whom an agent has received instruction and to whose benefit the agent is expected to perform and make decisions.Expanded Legal Definition of Principal
Privacy
A person's right to control access to his or her personal information.Expanded Legal Definition of Privacy
Private Carrier
One who carries goods or passengers of his choosing and in particular cases and not to the general public indifferently.Expanded Legal Definition of Private Carrier
Private International Law
A specialized branch of law which resolves cases which have an element of conflicting foreign law.Expanded Legal Definition of Private International Law
Private Law
Law which regulates the relationships between individuals.Expanded Legal Definition of Private Law
Private Nuisance
An unreasonable interference with the use or enjoyment of land.Expanded Legal Definition of Private Nuisance
Privative Clause
A section of law, typically right in the statute that creates an administrative tribunal, that states that all or select decisions of that tribunal are final and conclusive and not subject to judicial review.Expanded Legal Definition of Privative Clause
Privilege
A special and exclusive legal advantage or right such as a benefit, exemption, power or immunity.Expanded Legal Definition of Privilege
Privileged Will
A will valid in spite of defect of form, when made by mariners or soldiers.Expanded Legal Definition of Privileged Will
Privity of Contract
A doctrine of contract law that prevents any person from seeking the enforcement of a contract, or suing on its terms, unless they are a party to that contract.Expanded Legal Definition of Privity of Contract
Probate
The formal certificate given by a court that certifies that a will has been proven, validated and registered and which, from that point on, gives the executor the legal authority to execute the will.Expanded Legal Definition of Probate
Probation
A punishment given out as part of a sentence which means that instead of jailing a person convicted of a crime, a judge will order that the person reports to a probation officer regularly and according to a set schedule.Expanded Legal Definition of Probation
Probationary Employee
A new employee who, for a period of time, is being tested to enable the employer to ascertain the suitability of the employee for its purposes.Expanded Legal Definition of Probationary Employee
Pro Bono
Provided at no cost to the interested party.Expanded Legal Definition of Pro Bono
Procedural Law
The rules of legal process such as the rules of evidence and of procedure in enforcing a legal right or obligation.Expanded Legal Definition of Procedural Law
Profit à Prendre
A servitude which resembles an easement and which allows the holder to enter the land of another and to take some natural produce such as mineral deposits, fish or game, timber, crops or pasture.Expanded Legal Definition of Profit à Prendre
Pro Forma
As a matter of form; in keeping with a form or practice.Expanded Legal Definition of Pro Forma
Prohibition
A legal restriction against the use of something or against certain conduct.Expanded Legal Definition of Prohibition
Promisee
A person whom is to be the beneficiary of a promise, an obligation or a contract.Expanded Legal Definition of Promisee
Promisor
The person who has become obliged through a promise (usually expressed in a contract) towards another.Expanded Legal Definition of Promisor
Promissory Estoppel
A promise made to another party to a contract that the contract will not be enforced in whole or in part and which, once acted upon, prevents subsequent proceedings to enforce the contract as against the person who relied on the promise.Expanded Legal Definition of Promissory Estoppel
Promissory Note
An unconditional, written and signed promise to pay a certain amount of money, on demand or at a certain defined date in the future.Expanded Legal Definition of Promissory Note
Proof in Common Form
A summary approval of an uncontested will by the court, subject to subsequent contest.Expanded Legal Definition of Proof in Common Form
Proof in Solemn Form
The pronouncement by a court that a will is formally approved and not subject to later contest barring fraud or the discovery of a later will.Expanded Legal Definition of Proof in Solemn Form
Proper Lookout
The legal obligation on the part of a vessel or motor vehicle operator to keep an ongoing watch of its path and other traffic or obstacles.Expanded Legal Definition of Proper Lookout
Property
A comprehensive collection of legal rights over a thing.Expanded Legal Definition of Property
Propinquity
Nearness in place; close-by. Also used to describe relationships as synonymous for kin.Expanded Legal Definition of Propinquity
Pro Possessore
Latin: a person who holds something only as possessor, not necessarily as owner.Expanded Legal Definition of Pro Possessore
Pro Possessore Habetur Qui Dolo Injuriave
Latin: he whose possession is taken away by fraud or injury will be deemed to continue to possess.Expanded Legal Definition of Pro Possessore Habetur Qui Dolo Injuriave
Propound
To offer a document as being authentic or valid.Expanded Legal Definition of Propound
Proprietor
Owner.Expanded Legal Definition of Proprietor
Pro Rata
Latin: to divide proportionate to a certain rate or interest.Expanded Legal Definition of Pro Rata
Prorogation
To end a session of a Parliament, and all business then on the agenda, until it is summoned to reconvene.Expanded Legal Definition of Prorogation
Pro Se
Latin: on one’s own behalf.Expanded Legal Definition of Pro Se
Pro Socio
Latin: on behalf of a partnership. Expanded Legal Definition of Pro Socio
Prosecute
To bring judicial proceedings against a person and to administer them until the conclusion of the court proceedings.Expanded Legal Definition of Prosecute
Prosecutorial Discretion
Discretionary powers exercised by the government's prosecution service such as whether to prosecute charge recommended by police, to stay an ongoing proceeding, plea bargaining, or the taking over of a private prosecution.Expanded Legal Definition of Prosecutorial Discretion
Prospectus
A document in which a corporation sets out the material details of a share or bond issue and inviting the public to invest by purchasing these financial instruments. Expanded Legal Definition of Prospectus
Prostitute
An individual who offers lewd sexual acts for the gratification of a customer and in exchange for money.Expanded Legal Definition of Prostitute
Pro Tempore
Latin: something done temporarily only and not intended to be permanent.Expanded Legal Definition of Pro Tempore
Proximate Cause
The most direct, effective or substantial cause of a tort; relevant where the negligence of more than one person contributed.Expanded Legal Definition of Proximate Cause
Proxy
A written appointment given by a voting member of an organization to another person allowing the proxy holder to attend a specific meeting on the member’s behalf, including the exercise of the member’s voting rights.Expanded Legal Definition of Proxy
Public Defender
An attorney in the USA paid for by the state but representing an indigent individual in a criminal matter.Expanded Legal Definition of Public Defender
Public Domain
Property that is available or accessible to the public.Expanded Legal Definition of Public Domain
Public Law
Those laws which regulate the structure and administration of the government, the conduct of the government in its relations with its citizens, the responsibilities of government employees and the relationships with foreign governments.Expanded Legal Definition of Public Law
Public Nuisance
A nuisance (tort) which interferes with public convenience or welfare.Expanded Legal Definition of Public Nuisance
Public Policy
Certain acts or contracts are said to be against public policy if they tend to promote breach of the law, of the policy behind a law or tend to harm the state or its citizens.Expanded Legal Definition of Public Policy
Puisne
Junior or lower in rank, as opposed to the chief justice. For example, there are 8 puisne judges on the Supreme Court of Canada and a chief justice.Expanded Legal Definition of Puisne
Punitive Damages
Special and highly exceptional damages ordered by a court against a defendant where the act or omission which caused the suit, was of a particularly heinous, malicious or highhanded nature.Expanded Legal Definition of Punitive Damages
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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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