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Most Popular Legal Definitions

lex loci

Latin, the law of a place as in where a right was acquired or a liability incurred.

injunction

 A court order that prohibits a party from doing something (restrictive injunction) or compels them to do something (mandatory injunction).

habitual residence

Ordinary residence.

mortgagee

The person who extends credit secured by a mortgage; the mortgage lender.

censure

1) to provide judgment 2) placing blame or condemnation 

judicial review

 a process where the Court is asked to rule on the appropriateness of the decision of an administrative agency or tribunal.

advancement

gift made by a person to one of his or her children or heirs in anticipation of a gift from the still-living parent's potential estate as an advance on one's inheritance; one should obtain proof that the advanced sum was against the projected inheritance

authorities

1) previous decisions by courts of appeal which provide legal guidance to a court on questions in a current lawsuit, which are called "precedents;" legal briefs (written arguments) are often called "points and authorities; thus, a lawyer "cites" the previously decided cases as "authorities" for his/her legal positions 2) a common term for law enforcement, as in "I'm going to call the authorities" (i.e. police)

in camera

A closed and private session of court.

civil liberties

Rights or freedoms given to the people by the First Amendment of the Constitution, by Common Law, or legislation, allowing the individual to be free to speak, think, assemble, organize, worship, or petition without government (or even private) interference or restraints. These liberties are protective in nature, while civil rights form a broader concept and include positive elements such as the right to use facilities, the right to an equal education, or the right to participate in government.