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Most Popular Legal Definitions

mandamus

A writ which commands an individual, organization, or court to perform a certain action, usually to correct a prior illegal action or a failure to act in the first place.

consideration

Some right, interest, profit, or benefit accruing to the one party of a contract, or some forbearance, detriment, loss or responsibility given, suffered or undertaken by the other.

inter partes

Latin, 'between parties.'

alienation

transfer of title to real property; does not apply to interests other than title, such as a mortgage

beneficiary

broad term for any person or entity who is to receive assets or profits from an estate, a trust, an insurance policy or any instrument in which there is distribution

proxy

1) The person authorized for a given task. 2) A written authorization empowering another person to vote or act for the signer.

dicta or 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.

lessor

The person who grants a lease, usually the owner of the thing leased.

exculpate

Something that excuses or justifies a wrong action

self-defense defense

a type of defense in a criminal proceeding that attempts to justify someone's use of force as necessary to protect themselves or another