Legal Glossary
Definitions for common legal terms and phrases.
A
Adjudication
The legal process of resolving a dispute or deciding a case.
Affidavit
A written statement confirmed by oath or affirmation, for use as evidence in court.
Appeal
A request made to a higher court to review and change the decision of a lower court.
B
Bail
The temporary release of an accused person awaiting trial, sometimes on condition that a sum of money is lodged to guarantee their appearance in court.
Brief
A written legal document used in various legal adversarial systems that is presented to a court arguing why one party to a particular case should prevail.
C
Contract
A legally binding agreement between two or more parties.
Copyright
The exclusive legal right to reproduce, publish, sell, or distribute the matter and form of something.
Custody
The protective care or guardianship of someone or something.
D
Damages
Monetary compensation claimed by a person who has suffered loss or injury through the unlawful act or negligence of another.
Defendant
An individual, company, or institution sued or accused in a court of law.
E
Easement
A right to cross or otherwise use someone else's land for a specified purpose.
Emancipation
The fact or process of being set free from legal, social, or political restrictions; liberation.
F
Felony
A crime, typically one involving violence, regarded as more serious than a misdemeanor, and usually punishable by imprisonment for more than one year or by death.
Foreclosure
The process by which a homeowner's rights to a property are forfeited because of failure to pay the mortgage.
G
Guarantor
A person who promises to pay a debt or fulfill an obligation if the original debtor or obligor fails to do so.
H
Habeas Corpus
A writ requiring a person under arrest to be brought before a judge or into court, especially to secure the person's release unless lawful grounds are shown for their detention.
I
Injunction
A judicial order restraining a person from beginning or continuing an action threatening or invading the legal right of another, or compelling a person to carry out a certain act.
L
Lien
A right to keep possession of property belonging to another person until a debt owed by that person is discharged.
M
Misdemeanor
A minor wrongdoing.
Mortgage
A legal agreement by which a bank or other creditor lends money at interest in exchange for taking title of the debtor's property, with the condition that the conveyance of title becomes void upon the payment of the debt.
N
Negligence
Failure to take proper care in doing something, resulting in damage or injury to another.
Nolo Contendere
A plea by which a defendant in a criminal prosecution accepts conviction as though a guilty plea had been entered but does not admit guilt.
O
Oath
A solemn promise, often invoking a divine witness, regarding one's future action or behavior.
Objection
An expression or feeling of disapproval or opposition; a reason for disagreeing.
P
Plaintiff
A person who brings a case against another in a court of law.
Power of Attorney
A legal document authorizing one person to act on behalf of another.
T
Tort
A wrongful act or an infringement of a right (other than under contract) leading to civil legal liability.
Trust
A legal entity in which a person or entity (the trustee) has legal title to property that he or she must use for the benefit of another person or entity (the beneficiary).