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A

Legal definitions for terms and concepts beginning with A
Abatement
A reduction in some amount that is owed, usually granted by the person to whom the debt is owed. - (see definition)
Abbacinare
A barbaric form of corporal punishment meted out in the middle ages where persons would be permanently blinded by the pressing of hot irons to the open eyes. - (see definition)
Abduction
To take someone away from a place without that person's consent or by fraud. - (see definition)
Abet
The act of encouraging or inciting another to do a certain thing, such as a crime. - (see definition)
Ab Initio
Latin: from the start; from the beginning. - (see definition)
Aboriginal
Pertaining to things or land or person or members of a race, which are indigenous to, or first occupied a specified territory. - (see definition)
Absolute
Final, perfected, complete and unconditional. - (see definition)
Absolute Discharge
A sentence of a person guilty of a crime in which the accused is deemed to have not been convicted; no criminal record issues as regards the offense for which an absolute discharge is granted. - (see definition)
Absolute Privilege
An absolute defence to an otherwise defamatory statement because of the venue or context which the statement was made. - (see definition)
Acceleration Clause
A clause in a contract that states that if a payment is missed, or some other default occurs (such as the debtor becoming insolvent), then the contract is fully due immediately. - (see definition)
Acceptance
The final and unequivocal expression of assent to another's offer to contract. - (see definition)
Access
A non-custodian parent's bundle of rights or times and days during which he/she has exclusive time with the child of the separated parents. - (see definition)
Accord and Satisfaction
A term of contract law by which one party, having complied with its obligation under a contract, accepts some type of compensation from the other party (usually money and of a lesser value) in lieu of enforcing the contract and holding the other party to their obligation. - (see definition)
Accretion
The imperceptible and gradual addition to land by the slow action of water. - (see definition)
Acquiescence
Action or inaction which binds a person legally even though it was not intended as such. - (see definition)
Acquittal
A decision by a judge that a person accused of a crime is not guilty. - (see definition)
Act
A bill which has passed through the various legislative steps required for it and which has become law - (see definition)
Act of God
An event which is caused solely by the effect of nature or natural causes and without any interference by humans whatsoever. - (see definition)
Actual Total Loss
Property that is completely destroyed, or lost and irretrievable; a term of insurance and maritime law. - (see definition)
Actus Reus
A prohibited act. - (see definition)
Actus Reus Non Facit Reum Nisi Mens Sit Rea
Conviction of a crime requires proof of a criminal act and intent. - (see definition)
Ad Colligendum Bona
When a person dies and there is no apparent executor or administrator, a person can be appointed by Court order and for the limited and sole purpose of collecting, inventorizing and preserving the assets of the deceased until an appropriate full-fledged administrator can be found or appointed. - (see definition)
Ad Damnum
Latin: refers to the parts or sections of a petition that speaks to the damages that were suffered and claimed by the plaintiff. - (see definition)
Addendum
An attachment to a written document. - (see definition)
Ademption
When property identified in a will cannot be given to the beneficiary because it no longer belonged to the deceased at the time of death. - (see definition)
Adhesion Contract
A fine-print consumer form contract which is generally given to consumers at point-of-sale, with no opportunity for negotiation as to it's terms, and which, typically, sets out the terms and conditions of the sale to advantage the seller. - (see definition)
Ad hoc
Latin: for this purpose; for a specific purpose. - (see definition)
Ad infinitum
Latin: forever; without limit; indefinitely. - (see definition)
Adjective Law
Procedural law. - (see definition)
Adjourn
The postponement, suspension and interruption of an ongoing hearing or meeting to resume at some future date; to break off for later resumption. - (see definition)
Ad litem
Latin: for the suit - (see definition)
Administrative law
Administrative law is that body of law which applies for hearings before quasi-judicial or quasi-judicial organizations or administrative tribunals supplement the rules of natural justice with their own detailed rules of procedure. - (see definition)
Administrative tribunal
Hybrid adjudicating authorities which straddle the line between government and the courts. - (see definition)
Administrator
A person who administers the estate of a person deceased. - (see definition)
Admiralty
Law or judicial body having to do with, or jurisdiction over, shipping and use of the sea. - (see definition)
Adoption
To take as one's own. - (see definition)
ADR
Abbreviation for alternative dispute resolution. - (see definition)
Adultery
Voluntary sexual intercourse between a married person and another person who is not their married spouse. - (see definition)
Adverse possession
The possession of land, without legal title, for a period of time sufficient to become recognized as legal owner. - (see definition)
Adverse Witness
The right of a party calling a witness to show that the witness made a prior inconsistent statement. - (see definition)
Affiant
A person that is sworn to an affidavit; who gives evidence by way of an affidavit. - (see definition)
Affidavit
A statement which before being signed, the person signing takes an oath that the contents are, to the best of their knowledge, true. - (see definition)
Affirmative Action
A reverse discrimination law, program or activity that has as its object the amelioration of conditions of individuals who are socially or economically disadvantaged. - (see definition)
Affray
A fight between two or more persons in a public place so as to cause terror to the public. - (see definition)
Affreightment
A transportation contract whereby a transportation company, shipowner or operator agrees to carry goods in return for a sum of money, the sum being paid called freight. - (see definition)
Agency Law
The law of agents and their principals as between themselves and third-parties. - (see definition)
Agenda
A term of parliamentary law and procedure referring to a program, written notice and order of business at an upcoming meeting. - (see definition)
Agent
A person who has received the power to act on behalf of another, binding that other person as if he or she were themselves making the decisions. - (see definition)
Age of Majority
An age generally specified by statute, at which time, upon an individual is given the full gamut of legal rights and responsibilities generally available to an adult of sound mind. - (see definition)
Aggravated damages
Damages awarded by a court to reflect the exceptional harm done to a plaintiff of a tort action. - (see definition)
Alimony
An amount given to one spouse to another while they are separated. - (see definition)
Alliance
A military treaty between two or more states, providing for a mutually-planned offensive, or for assistance in the case of attack on any member. - (see definition)
Alien
An individual citizen of a state but so characterized by and while in transit, working, residing or otherwise in the territory of another state. - (see definition)
Alienate
To sell or give completely and without reserve; to transfer title to somebody else. - (see definition)
Allodial
A kind of land ownership that is unfetterred, outright and absolute. - (see definition)
Allonge
A piece of paper which has been attached to a contract, a check or any promissory note, on which to add signatures because there is not enough room on the main document. - (see definition)
Alternative dispute resolution
Also known as 'ADR'; methods by which legal conflicts and disputes are resolved privately and other than through litigation in the public courts, usually through one of two forms: mediation or arbitration. - (see definition)
Alternative Measures
Canada; a much lighter disposition of a criminal charge regarding an adult accused who would be prepared to plead guilty and which does not result in a criminal record or incarceration but instead usually results in a mild penalty such as community service, an apology to the victim or counseling. - (see definition)
Amalgamation
The merging of two things together to form one such as the amalgamation of different companies to form a single company. - (see definition)
Ambassador
A citizen that has been officially asked by their country to live in another country in order to legally represent it. - (see definition)
Ambulatory
something which is not cast in stone; which can be changed or revoked, such as a will. - (see definition)
Amend
To change, to revise, usually to the wording of a written document such as legislation. - (see definition)
Amicus curiae
Latin: friend of the court. - (see definition)
Anarchy
Absence of law. - (see definition)
Ancillary Relief
Secondary relief claimed by a litigant which is subordinate or subservient to a principal claim. - (see definition)
And/Or
And/or means any combination of two options; one, the other (either), or both. - (see definition)
Animus Contrahendi
Latin: an intention to contract. - (see definition)
Annulment
To make void; to cancel an event or judicial proceeding both retroactively and for the future. - (see definition)
Antedate
To date back; retroactively. To date a document to a time before it was written. - (see definition)
Antenuptial
An event or document which pre-dates a marriage. - (see definition)
Anti-trust
(USA) 'Anti-trust' legislation is designed to prevent businesses from price-setting or other secret collaboration which circumvents the natural forces of a free market economy and gives those engaging in the anti-trust conduct, a covert competitive edge. - (see definition)
Apostacy
The ancient criminal offence of not being Christian or atheism. - (see definition)
Appeal
To ask a more senior court or person to review a decision of a subordinate court or person. - (see definition)
Appearance
The act of showing up in court as either plaintiff, defendant, accused or any other party to a civil or criminal suit. - (see definition)
Apportionment
The division and distribution of something into proportionate parts; to each according to their share. - (see definition)
Appraisal
The informed and objective inspection and estimation of a thing's worth. - (see definition)
Appraisement
The inspection and appraisal or valuation of property, especially vessels, such as by a court-appointed surveyor, before its judicial sale, thus allowing the court to make an informed decision as to whether the judicial sale price is fair to the parties, particularly where there are competing claims for the proceeds of sale. - (see definition)
Appurtenance
Something that, although detached, stands as part of another thing. - (see definition)
Arbitration
An agreement to submit a dispute for a hearing and binding decision by a third-party, an arbitrator(s), who is neither a judge or a Court - (see definition)
Armchair Rule
A rule of interpretation that a judge, called upon to interpret an otherise unclear legal document, shall take into account the circumstances in which the document was created. - (see definition)
Armed Robbery
Robbery committed while the person accused is armed with a dangerous weapon. - (see definition)
Arraignment
In USA criminal law, the formal appearance of an accused person to hear, and to receive a copy of, the charge against him or her, in the presence of a judge, and to then enter a plea of guilty or not guilty. - (see definition)
Arrears
A debt that is not paid on the due date adds up and accumulates as 'arrears'. - (see definition)
Arrest
The detainment or restraint of a person or thing for the purposes of determining legal rights as regards a thing, or suspicion of criminal activity as regards a person. - (see definition)
Arson
Some countries define 'arson' as the intentional setting of a fire to a building in which people live; others include as 'arson' the intentionally setting of a fire to any building. - (see definition)
Assault
The touching of another person with an intent to harm, without that person's consent. - (see definition)
Assign
To give, to transfer responsibility, to another. - (see definition)
Association
A form of organizational structure which is institutionally operated on a cost recovery basis, for which incorporation is extended by the government or, in some jurisdictions, as an unincorporated association of individuals, for a set of purposes set out in statute such as religious, scientific, social, literary, educational, recreational or benevolent purposes, and generally operated as nearly as possible at cost. - (see definition)
Assumpsit
Medieval era action for breach of contract. - (see definition)
Athens Passenger Convention
Formally, the Athens Convention relating to the Carriage of Passengers and their Luggage by Sea (PAL), 1974, an international treaty which establishes a regime of liability for damage suffered by passengers carried on a seagoing vessel. - (see definition)
Attorn or Attornment
To consent, implicitly or explicitly, to a transfer of a right. - (see definition)
Attorney
An alternate word for lawyers or barrister and solicitor, used mostly in the USA. - (see definition)
Audi Alteram Partem
Latin; literally 'hear the other side'. - (see definition)
Automatism
An act done by a person who is not conscious of what he is doing. - (see definition)
Autrefois acquit
Previously acquitted; an accused cannot be tried for a crime because the record shows he has already been subjected to trial for the same conduct and was acquitted. - (see definition)
A vinculo matrimonii
Latin: of marriage. - (see definition)
Avulsion
Land accretion that occurs by the erosion or addition of one’s land by the sudden and unexpected change in a river stream such as a flash flood. - (see definition)
Avunculus
Latin: a mother's brother. 'Avuncular' refers to an uncle. - (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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