Legal terms starting with A

Reduction or elimination of gifts in a will when the estate doesn't have enough money to pay all debts and bequests.

A person who helps, encourages, or supports someone else in committing a crime.

Agreeing to the exact terms of an offer, creating a binding contract.

Accepting a contract by doing nothing when the other party expects a response.

Accepting a contract by actually doing what was requested rather than saying yes.

A person who helps commit a crime or helps a criminal escape, either before or after the crime.

Helping a criminal escape or hide after they've committed a crime.

Helping someone plan or prepare to commit a crime before it happens.

Someone who knowingly helps another person commit a crime.

Legal responsibility for a crime based on helping or encouraging someone else to commit it.

An agreement to settle a dispute by accepting different performance than originally promised.

An agreement to settle a dispute by accepting something different from the original contract.

A court decision that a defendant is not guilty of the charges.

A natural event beyond human control that excuses contract performance.

Failure to perform a contract duty on or after the date performance is due.

The real state of something at a specific moment in time.

Completing all the obligations required under a contract exactly as promised.

The guilty act or physical conduct that constitutes the crime itself.

A contract section stating the maximum amount of damages one party can claim.

When a specific gift in a will is removed or no longer exists at the person's death.

A will gift fails because the estate lacks the money or property to pay it.

A gift during life counts toward reducing what a beneficiary receives from a will.

Whether the value exchanged in a contract is fair or sufficient in the eyes of the law.

A take-it-or-leave-it agreement where one party has much more power to set the terms.

To hear and decide a case in court, determining the rights and responsibilities of the parties.

A court's official decision or judgment in a legal case.

A court proceeding where a judge hears evidence and makes a formal decision about a legal matter.

A person appointed by the court to manage an estate when there is no will.

Gaining legal ownership of land by occupying it openly and continuously for a set period.

A public notice or display offering goods or services for sale.

A written statement sworn under oath before an authorized official, used as evidence in court.

A party's decision to keep a contract or agreement even after discovering a reason to cancel it.

A serious attack that causes or risks severe injury, often with a weapon.

A more serious form of battery involving weapons, severe injury, or vulnerable victims.

A person who helps or encourages someone else to commit a crime.

The act of helping or encouraging someone to commit a crime.

Similar to or comparable to something else in nature or character.

Evidence that a defendant was somewhere else when the crime occurred.

A claim that the defendant was somewhere else when the crime occurred.

Court-ordered payments from one spouse to another after divorce or separation.

A second self or alternative identity, often used to pierce corporate liability shields.

Methods of resolving disputes outside traditional court litigation, such as arbitration, mediation, or negotiation.

Unclear or multiple reasonable interpretations of contract language.

A revised version of a criminal or civil complaint filed to correct or add charges.

A formal, written change to a contract or legal document.

A party's clear statement or action showing they won't perform their contract duties before the due date.

One party clearly indicates before performance is due that it will not fulfill its contract obligations.

A request to a higher court to review and overturn a lower court's decision.

An appeal that a defendant can file automatically without needing special permission from the court.

Money or security posted to allow a convicted defendant to remain free while appealing their conviction.

A higher court's examination of a lower court's decision to check for legal errors.

A private dispute resolution process where an impartial third party (arbitrator) hears evidence and makes a binding decision instead of going to court.

A contract provision requiring disputes to be resolved by a private arbitrator instead of court.

Taking property from someone by force or threat while carrying a weapon.

A defendant's first court appearance to hear charges and enter a plea.

A defendant's first court appearance after being formally charged by a grand jury.

The act of taking someone into police custody based on probable cause.

A court order authorizing police to arrest a specific person suspected of a crime.

The section of the UCC that governs the sale of goods between merchants and non-merchants.

An intentional act that causes someone to fear imminent physical harm.

Attempting or threatening to cause serious bodily harm using an object capable of causing death or severe injury.

A party's agreement to the terms of a contract.

Transferring your contract rights to someone else.

The transfer of a contractual right from one party to another, making the new party the beneficiary.

An employment relationship where either party can end the job at any time without cause or notice.

Trying to commit a crime but failing to complete it.

Taking substantial steps toward killing someone with the intent to cause death.

A contract provision stating that the losing party must pay the winning party's legal costs if a dispute arises.