The Law Dictionary for Everyone
The phrase “determinate sentencing” means that an offender is sentenced to a specific amount of time in jail upon his conviction. Determinate sentencing is only used in a handful of states. Most of the country instead relies on indeterminate sentencing, which is a sentencing that refers to a range of time, rather than a set period. To explore this concept, […]
Read moreHonorable discharge is the status a military service member receives when he has successfully and wholly completed the obligations excepted of him or her. For example, honorable discharge means that a veteran is relieved from having to participate in any military service obligations in the future, though being discharged from the military is not the same as being retired. On […]
Read moreAn implied contract is a contract that exists based on the actions of those involved. Though it is not a written or spoken contract, it is just as legal. A contract is assumed to exist based on the behaviors of the parties to it. An example of an implied contract is an implied warranty that goes into effect upon the […]
Read moreA witness is referred to as a “hostile witness” if he refuses to tell the truth in a court of law after having previously sworn that he would; or if he is open against the party who called him as a witness. The side that calls the witness, be it the prosecution or the defense, believes the witness will provide […]
Read moreThe term inchoate crimes refers to acts engaged in toward the commission of a criminal act, or which amount to indirect participation in a criminal act. While such an action may not be a crime in and of itself, it is engaged in for the purpose of furthering or advancing a crime. These types of acts are illegal because it […]
Read moreA deed of trust is an agreement that is made between a lender and a borrower, to allow a neutral third party to act as a trustee over a piece of property. The trustee holds legal title to the property until the borrower can pay off his debt. As he repays the debt, the borrower keeps the actual title to […]
Read moreThe term “condemnation” is used to define the situation wherein a local, state, or federal government seizes a citizen’s property, then compensates the owner for what was seized. An example of condemnation is a piece of property being condemned by the government due to a carbon monoxide leak. The owners of the property will be forced to move out, and […]
Read moreConstructive notice is an idea in the legal world that a person may be notified by public posting of a pending legal action. This may be done in the event that the individual cannot be served personally or by mail. If the requirements for constructive notice have been met, the court deems the party to have been given notice, whether […]
Read moreCovenant marriage is a type of marriage that only exists in three U.S. states: Arizona, Arkansas, and Louisiana. Louisiana was the first state to pass such a law back in 1997. In a covenant marriage, the spouses agree to seek pre-marital counseling. They also agree to accept more restrictions insofar as the grounds on which they can file for divorce, […]
Read moreIn the law, the term forum non conveniens refers to the discretionary power of a court to not hear a case that may be more appropriately – or more conveniently – heard in another court. The exercise of forum non conveniens results in the dismissal of the case, but does not prevent the plaintiff from filing the case in a […]
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