The Law Dictionary for Everyone
The term “ratification” describes the act of making something officially valid by signing it or otherwise giving it formal consent. For example, ratification occurs when parties sign a contract. The signing of the contract makes it official, and it can then be enforced by law, should the need arise. To explore this concept, consider the following ratification definition. Definition of […]
Read moreThe term “escheat” describes a situation wherein a property owner dies without leaving a will, and without legal heirs, and so his property becomes the property of the state. For example, escheat happens when a person has no beneficiaries. Escheat may also happen in a situation where there is money in a bank account that has gone unclaimed for years, […]
Read moreThe term “conflict of interest” in the legal world refers to a situation wherein an individual is in a position to exploit his professional capacity for his own benefit. For example, a conflict of interest would arise if one law firm tried to represent both parties in a divorce case. This problem is typically found in the medical and political […]
Read moreThe term sine qua non is translated from Latin to mean “without which it could not be.” For example, sine qua non would apply to a situation wherein a child found his father’s gun in an unlocked cabinet and injured himself. The father, who left the gun cabinet unlocked, was the sine qua non of the injury that his child […]
Read moreThe term impasse” refers to the type of situation where no further progress can be made, and all possible options have been exhausted. For example, an impasse in a legal case would be the failure of the parties to reach a settlement, despite going through mediation and exhausting all good faith efforts to do the same. In this case, the […]
Read moreThe term “disposition” can have several different meanings in the legal world, depending on the issue being discussed. For example, a disposition in a court case means that the court has come to a final decision on the case, and so the case can be closed. Disposition can also refer to the act of transferring property to another person in […]
Read moreThe term “coercion” is used to describe the act of forcing or intimidating someone to do what you want them to do. At some point or another, most people have been subjected to coercion. For example, coercion is what every schoolyard bully uses when he tells another student to give up his lunch money to the bully or risk being […]
Read moreThe term “counter offer” is used to describe a situation wherein an offer is made to someone, and they make an alternative offer in return. That alternative offer is the counter offer. When a counter offer is made, the prior offer is accepted as rejected, and it is understood that the contract won’t be accepted unless the counter is accepted. […]
Read moreIf someone is “incapacitated,” this means that he is unable to react or respond in a clear manner to that which is going on around him. For example, an incapacitated person may be someone who has had too much alcohol and, as a result, has passed out. Anyone who then tries to communicate with this person will not receive a […]
Read moreThe term “expert witness” is used to describe a person who is called upon to testify during a trial due to his knowledge or skills in a field that is relevant to the case. For example, an expert witness may be a blood spatter analyst who can testify as to the type of weapon that was used to commit a […]
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