able-bodied
adj. physically capable of working at a job or in the military. It is often used to describe a person as capable of earning a living and, therefore, of paying alimony or child support. read the full legal term able-bodied
abortion
n. the termination of pregnancy by various means, including medical surgery, before the fetus is able to sustain independent life. Until 1973 abortion was considered a crime (by the mother and the doctor) unless performed by physicians to protect the....... read the full legal term abortion
abrogate
v. to annul or repeal a law or pass legislation that contradicts the prior law. Abrogate also applies to revoking or withdrawing conditions of a contract. read the full legal term abrogate
abscond
v. 1) traditionally to leave a jurisdiction (where the court, a process server or law enforcement can find one) to avoid being served with legal papers or being arrested. 2) a surprise leaving with funds or goods that have been stolen, as in 'he....... read the full legal term abscond
absolute
adj. complete, and without condition. read the full legal term absolute
abstention doctrine
n. when the Supreme Court refuses to exercise its federal constitutional jurisdiction or declines to consider a question of state law arising from a case being appealed from a state court. read the full legal term abstention doctrine
abstract
n. in general, a summary of a record or document, such as an abstract of judgment or abstract of title to real property. read the full legal term abstract
abstract of judgment
n. a written summary of a judgment which states how much money the losing party owes to the person who won the lawsuit (judgment creditor), the rate of interest to be paid on the judgment amount, court costs, and any specific orders that the losing....... read the full legal term abstract of judgment
abstract of title
n. the written report on a title search which shows the history of every change of ownership on a piece of real estate, and any claims against the property, such as easements on the property, loans against it, deeds of trust, mortgages, liens,....... read the full legal term abstract of title
abuse of discretion
n. a polite way of saying a trial judge has made such a bad mistake ('clearly against reason and evidence' or against established law) during a trial or on ruling on a motion that a person did not get a fair trial. A court of appeals will use....... read the full legal term abuse of discretion
abuse of process
n. the use of legal process by illegal, malicious, or perverted means. Examples include serving (officially giving) a complaint to someone when it has not actually been filed, just to intimidate an enemy; filing a false declaration of service (filing a....... read the full legal term abuse of process
abut
v. when two parcels of real property touch each other. read the full legal term abut
