Civil Law

CIVIL LAW

AFFIDAVIT (N) written declaration of fact, made under oath (or affirmation) of the party making it

AGENCY (N) a relationship in which one party is legally authorised To act on behalf of another

AMERCE (V) to punish by fine

ANNUL (V) to make or declare invalid or void

ATTEST (V) To state a fact in writing and swear to its truthfulness

BARRISTER (N)     IN Canada, a lawyer who represents clients in any court; in England and Wales, lawyer who represents clients in higher law courts

BEQUEATH (V) to leave property to someone after death by means of will; hand down knowledge or practice to posterity

COMMON LAW (N) law derived from custom and precedents rather than statutes

CONSERVATOR (N) one authorised to protect interests of another who is legally incompetent

DECEDENT (N) a deceased person

DECREE (N) an official legal, order for administrating and/or managing another's assets

DEMUR (V) to claim that even if another party's facts are true there is no legitimate claim or legal recourse

DEPOSITION (N) the process of giving a sworn evidence; testimony

ESCROW (N) money, property, or a written bond that is kept in the custody of a third party until a specified condition has been Fulfilled

FELONY (N) a crime, usually involving violence and regarded by the law as grave

FIDUCIARY (N) trustee charged with the legal responsibility

FORENSIC (N) of or used in connection with courts of law

FRANCHISE (N) a right or prⁱvilege granted by authority (especially, suffrage •- the right to vote)

HABEAS CORPUS (N) a writ requiring a person to be produced in court to investigate the legality of his / her detention

IMPEACH (V) to discredit; to charge somebody with a crime or misdemeanour

INDEMNIFY (V) to restore a victim of a loss to the same position as before the loss occurred

INDEMNITY (N) legal exemption from penalties etc. incurred

INDICTMENT (N) a formal accusation

INTESTATE (ADJ) dying without making a will

IN FLAGRANTE DELICTO (Adj) in the very act of committing a crime; red-handed

JURISDICTION (N) the authority (usually of a court) to hear and decide legal disputes

LIBEL (N) slander or malign

MITIGATE (V) to minimise or lessen the severity of damage

NOTARY (N) a person who is officially authorised to authenticate legal documents (contracts, deeds, etc.)

PAROLE (N) temporary (or permanent) release of a prisoner before time on the promise of (and based on) good behaviour

PLAINTIFF (N) a person who brings a case against another in a court of law

PROBATE (V) the official proving of a will

PROXY (N) authority to act (for example, to vote) for another

QUITCLAIM (V) to transfer or relinquish title, right or claim to another; to declare somebody to be no longer legally liable for something

REMISE (V) to suurender or make over a right or property

RESCIND (V) to cancel, nullify, revoke; retract; annul; to invalidate by subsequent action

REVOCABLE (AD]) capable of being revoked or cancelled

STIPULATE (V) to specify, require or set forth a particular fact as a condition of an agreement

SUBPOENA (N) a court order compelling a witness to provide information or to be present at a court hearing

SUBROGATE (V) to substitute one party (e.g., a creditor) for another in transferring a right or claim

TESTATOR (N) one who has made a will

TORT (N) a wrongful act for which damages can be sought by the injured party

TRAVERSE (V) deny an allegation by pleading

ULTRA VIRES (ADJ) beyond ones legal power or authority

VEST (V) to settle or confer, or be a part of somebody's property, power or rights

WAIVE (V) to voluntarily give up or surrender a right or privilege