Legal dictionary
Available entries: 385 entries
Entries: 385
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Legal dictionary
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Aggravated
A criminal offence made more serious by its circumstances. Legal dictionary
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Alibi
A defence to a criminal prosecution where the party accused, in order to prove that he/she could not have committed the crime with which he/she is charged, offers evidence to show that he/she was in another place at the time. Legal dictionary
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Alienation
The capacity for a piece of property or a property right to be sold or otherwise transferred from one party to another. Legal dictionary
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Alternative dispute resolution
A means of settling a dispute other than by way of litigation. These methods include arbitration and mediation and are usually less costly and more expeditious than litigation. Legal dictionary
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Amicus curiae
A party that is not involved in the litigation at hand but is allowed by the court to advise on a matter of law or policy directly affecting the litigation. Legal dictionary
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Amortized mortgage
Is a loan used to buy a house or other real property which is repaid with regular repayments comprising interest and the repayment of some of the money originally borrowed. Legal dictionary
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Ancillary relief
An application for financial relief following the presentation of a petition for divorce, nullity or judicial separation. The term arises because the financial application is ancillary to the petition. Legal dictionary
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Anticipatory breach
Where a party to a contract repudiates his/her obligations under the contract before fully performing those obligations. This can occur either by words "I will not make any more payments" or actions "stopping making any more payments". As a result, the other party does not have to perform his/her obligations under the contract and cannot be liable for not doing so. Legal dictionary
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Apostille
A special seal applied by a competent authority to certify that a document is a true copy of an original. Apostille certification is a form of authentication issued to documents for use in countries that are signatories to the Hague Convention of 1961. Legal dictionary
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Appurtenant
Belonging to, accessory or incidental to; annexed or appended to. A thing is deemed to be incidental or appurtenant to land when it is by right used with the land for its benefit, as in the case of a right of way or watercourse, or a passage of light or air from across the land belonging to another. Legal dictionary
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Arbitration
The reference of a dispute to an impartial person or persons chosen by the parties who agree in advance to abide by the arbitration award issued after the hearing at which both parties are given an opportunity to be heard. Legal dictionary
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Asylum
Commonly used to describe the protection given to someone who has left their own country as a political refugee. Legal dictionary
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Balance of probabilities
Evidence which is more convincing than evidence that is offered in opposition to it; standard of proof in civil cases requiring that one side’s case must be more likely than not when deciding on liability. Legal dictionary
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Bankruptcy
A legal status imposed by a court order that usually refers to an individual that cannot repay the debts that it owes to creditors. Legal dictionary
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Beneficial interest
Profit, benefit or advantage resulting from a contract, or a right in something (property or an estate) as opposed to having actual legal title (legal ownership) to the thing. Legal dictionary
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