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r
Legal definitions for terms and concepts beginning with r

Racial Pollution
A prohibition of sexual relations with persons outside of defined races.
Expanded Legal Definition of Racial Pollution
Racial Profiling
Targeting of individual members of a particular racial group, on the basis of the supposed propensity of the entire group.
Expanded Legal Definition of Racial Profiling
Racketeering
The interfering with trade or commerce by violence or threats.
Expanded Legal Definition of Racketeering
Ransom
Money paid to have a kidnapped person released.
Expanded Legal Definition of Ransom
Rape
Sex with a woman, other than the perpetrator's wife, without her consent.
Expanded Legal Definition of Rape
Rapina
Latin: to take away forcefully.
Expanded Legal Definition of Rapina
Ratio Decidendi
Latin: reasons for a decision.
Expanded Legal Definition of Ratio Decidendi
Ratione Personae
Latin: by reason of his person.
Expanded Legal Definition of Ratione Personae
Real Estate
Same as real property; land and rights attached to land.
Expanded Legal Definition of Real Estate
Real Obligation
A legal obligation associated with real property.
Expanded Legal Definition of Real Obligation
Real Property
A property interest in land.
Expanded Legal Definition of Real Property
Reasonable Doubt
A threshold of proof in criminal cases in most modern criminal law systems which requires the trier of fact to be sure, not certain, of the accused's guilt, before convicting.
Expanded Legal Definition of Reasonable Doubt
Reasonable Man
An esoteric concept of expected response or behavior from which liability for negligence is weighed.
Expanded Legal Definition of Reasonable Man
Reasons
The legal rationale behind a court's judgment, expressed verbally or in writing.
Expanded Legal Definition of Reasons
Rebus Sic Stantibus
Latin: changed circumstances.
Expanded Legal Definition of Rebus Sic Stantibus
Rebuttable Presumption
A presumption of fact which can be defeated by persuasive evidence to the contrary.
Expanded Legal Definition of Rebuttable Presumption
Receipt
A document which acknowledges the delivery of a thing or the payment of money.
Expanded Legal Definition of Receipt
Reciprocity
A term of international treaties by which two or more states agree to extend to the other's citizens specified legal rights on the same standing as its own citizens.
Expanded Legal Definition of Reciprocity
Recommendation
Advice or counsel which although presented as such, the recipient is free to take or leave, or which may be binding in the context.
Expanded Legal Definition of Recommendation
Reconciliation
The act of separated spouses returning to family cohabitation.
Expanded Legal Definition of Reconciliation
Recusation
An application made to a judge that he/she not hear a particular case because of a real or perceived conflict of interest; that the judge recuse himself (abstain) from the case.
Expanded Legal Definition of Recusation
Redact
Removing text or images from an original document.
Expanded Legal Definition of Redact
Reddendum
Latin: that part of a lease which sets out the amount of rent and when it is payable.
Expanded Legal Definition of Reddendum
Redemption
Buying back. When a vendor later buys the property back.
Expanded Legal Definition of Redemption
Red test

Expanded Legal Definition of Red test
Refoulement
The return of an alleged refugee to his state of origin.
Expanded Legal Definition of Refoulement
Refugee
A person who is outside his state of origin or of residence, and cannot return for fear of human-rights related persecution.
Expanded Legal Definition of Refugee
Relator
An informer; a person who has supplied the facts required for a criminal prosecution or a civil suit.
Expanded Legal Definition of Relator
Release
A with prejudice concession made by a party to give up all claims in regards to an alleged tort or contract.
Expanded Legal Definition of Release
Remainder
A right to future enjoyment or ownership of real property.
Expanded Legal Definition of Remainder
Remanet
Latin: an action that has been put over, deferred to a later time.
Expanded Legal Definition of Remanet
Remedy
Remedial judicial action to right a wrong or to prevent a infrigement upon a legal right.
Expanded Legal Definition of Remedy
REMO
Abbreviation for reciprocal enforcement of maintenance orders, an international system of enforcement of support orders.
Expanded Legal Definition of REMO
Rent
Money or other consideration paid by a tenant to a landlord in exchange for the exclusive use and enjoyment of land, a building or a part of a building.
Expanded Legal Definition of Rent
Replevin
A legal action taken to reclaim goods which have been distrained.
Expanded Legal Definition of Replevin
Republic
A form of government where the law-makers and administrators are chosen by the people and not king or queen, or chosen thereby.
Expanded Legal Definition of Republic
Republication
The validation of a previously invalid will by express reference to it in a subsequent will or codicil.
Expanded Legal Definition of Republication
Rescind
To abrogate or cancel a contract putting the parties in the same position they would have been in had there been no contract.
Expanded Legal Definition of Rescind
Rescue
Taking and setting at liberty, against the law, either goods or imprisoned persons.
Expanded Legal Definition of Rescue
Res Gestae
Latin: things done.
Expanded Legal Definition of Res Gestae
Residential Tenancy
The lease of residential premises for residential purposes.
Expanded Legal Definition of Residential Tenancy
Res Ipsa Loquitur
Latin: the thing speaks for itself.
Expanded Legal Definition of Res Ipsa Loquitur
Res Judicata
Latin: already subject to judicial determination.
Expanded Legal Definition of Res Judicata
Resolution
The formal decision of an organization. A motion which has obtained the necessary majority vote in favor.
Expanded Legal Definition of Resolution
Respondeat superior
Latin: let the principal answer.
Expanded Legal Definition of Respondeat superior
Respondent
The party that responds to a claim filed in court against them by a plaintiff.
Expanded Legal Definition of Respondent
Restitutio In Integrum
Latin: restitution to the original position.
Expanded Legal Definition of Restitutio In Integrum
Restitution
The return to a rightful owner of a thing wrongfully taken.
Expanded Legal Definition of Restitution
Restorative Justice
A response to a legal dispute which strives to acknowledge the needs of all involved.
Expanded Legal Definition of Restorative Justice
Restrictive Covenant
A contract in which a party agrees to be limited in some regards as to future conduct.
Expanded Legal Definition of Restrictive Covenant
Resulting Trust
A trust that is presumed by the court from certain situations.
Expanded Legal Definition of Resulting Trust
Retainer
A contract between a lawyer and his (or her) client, wherein the lawyer agrees to represent and provide legal advice to the client, in exchange for money.
Expanded Legal Definition of Retainer
Retraxit
Latin: a withdrawal of a legal action.
Expanded Legal Definition of Retraxit
Reverse Payment
A payment by a patent holder to an infringer in consideration of the infringer's cease and desist.
Expanded Legal Definition of Reverse Payment
Reversion
A future interest left in a transferor or his (or her) heirs. A reservation in a real property conveyance that the property reverts back to the original owner upon the occurrence of a certain event.
Expanded Legal Definition of Reversion
Reversionary Interest
Any interest, vested or contingent, the enjoyment of which is postponed.
Expanded Legal Definition of Reversionary Interest
Ridda
Muslim law: the rejection of the religion of Islam by a Muslim.
Expanded Legal Definition of Ridda
Rider
A written amendment as to the coverage of an existing life or health insurance policy.
Expanded Legal Definition of Rider
Right of First Refusal
A right given to a person to be the first person allowed to purchase a certain object if it is ever offered for sale.
Expanded Legal Definition of Right of First Refusal
Riot
Three or more persons who assemble and advance a purpose together, with the intent to use force if necessary, and raising alarm of a reasonable person(s).
Expanded Legal Definition of Riot
Riparian Rights
Special rights of people who own land that runs into a river bank (a riparian owner is a person who owns land that runs into a river).
Expanded Legal Definition of Riparian Rights
Robbery
Theft under threat or use of force.
Expanded Legal Definition of Robbery
Roman Law
Form and content of law that was developed by the Romans during their 1,000 year empire starting in 500 BC; form in that it was written, and with content that sought to publish a comprehensive code of private law thus addressed a predictable structure for its people and the economy.
Expanded Legal Definition of Roman Law
Rooming House
Rented residential premises where an individual shares a kitchen and bathroom with others.
Expanded Legal Definition of Rooming House
Rota Court
Medieval Papal and Roman Catholic court.
Expanded Legal Definition of Rota Court
Rout
A common law and public order criminal offence which has gone beyond an unlawful assembly in that some action has been taken towards either the crime intended or the disturbance of the peace.
Expanded Legal Definition of Rout
Rukun
Muslim law: the essential requirements for marriage.
Expanded Legal Definition of Rukun
Rule Against Perpetuities
A common law rule that prevents suspending the transfer of property for more than 21 years or a lifetime plus 21 years.
Expanded Legal Definition of Rule Against Perpetuities
Rule in Aerocide
A Canadian legal principle applicable in employment law which holds an employer to the reasons for a dismissal expressed at the time of dismissal, and prohibiting the attempt to later advance other reasons.
Expanded Legal Definition of Rule in Aerocide
Rule in Foss v Harbottle
A rule of corporations law: shareholders have no separate cause of action in law for any wrongs which may have been inflicted upon a corporation.
Expanded Legal Definition of Rule in Foss v Harbottle
Rule in Shelley's Case
A mostly abolished rule in estate law to the effect that if a life estate was created but the remainderman was the heirs of that person, the life estate collapsed and the entire estate vested in that person.
Expanded Legal Definition of Rule in Shelley's Case
Rule of Law
That individuals, persons and government shall submit to, obey and be regulated by law, and not arbitrary action by an individual or a group of individuals.
Expanded Legal Definition of Rule of Law
Rule of Lenity
A rule of construction of statutes: that criminal statute ambiguities are resolved in favor of the defendant or accused.
Expanded Legal Definition of Rule of Lenity
Rules of Court
Rules of procedure and conduct during the sitting of a court of law uniformly applicable to litigants and their lawyers, and governing the hearings of claims and motions, and defences or responses thereto.
Expanded Legal Definition of Rules of Court

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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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