Nolo’s Plain-English Law Dictionary

Legal definitions from A to Z

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a fortiori
a priori assumption
a.k.a.
ab initio
AB trust
ABA
abandon
abandoned property
abandonment
abandonment (of residence)
abandonment (of trademark)
abate
abatement
abduction
abet
abeyance
abortion
abrogate
abscond
absentee ballot
absolute
abstention doctrine
abstract
abstract of judgment
abstract of title
abstract of trust
abstractor
abuse
abuse excuse
abuse of discretion
abuse of process
abut
accelerated depreciation
acceleration
acceleration clause
accept
acceptance
acceptance of service
access
accessory
accommodation
accompanying relative
accomplice
accomplice witness
accord and satisfaction
account stated
accountant
accounting
accounts payable
accounts receivable
accredited investor
accretion
accrual method of accounting
accrue
accumulated earnings
accumulation trust
accusation
accused
acknowledge
acknowledged father
acknowledgment
ACLU
acquisition of citizenship
acquit
acquittal
act
act of God
act of nature
action
actionable
actual controversy
actual damages
actual notice
actuarial tables
actus reus
ad hoc
ad litem
ad seriatim
ad valorem tax
ADA
addendum
ADEA
adeem
ademption
ademption by satisfaction
adequate remedy
adhesion contract (contract of adhesion)
adjourn
adjudicate
adjudication
adjustable rate mortgage (ARM)
adjusted basis
adjusted gross income (AGI)
adjuster
adjustment
adjustment date
adjustment of status
adjustment period
administer
administration (of an estate)
administrative expenses
administrative hearing
administrative law
administrative law judge (ALJ)
Administrative Procedure Act
administrator
administrator ad litem
administrator ad prosequendum
administrator cum testamento annexo
administrator de bonis non
administrator de bonis non cum testamento annexo
administrator pendente lite
administrator with will annexed
administratrix
admiralty court
admiralty law
admissible evidence
admission
admission against interest
admission of guilt
admit
adopt
adopted child
adoption
adoptive parent
ADR
adult
adultery
advance
advance directive
advance parole
advance sheets
advancement
adverse
adverse interest
adverse party
adverse possession
adverse witness
advisory opinion
affiant
affidavit
affirm
affirmative action
affirmative defense
affix
after-acquired evidence
after-acquired property
after-acquired title
after-discovered evidence
age discrimination
Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA)
age of consent
age of majority
agency
agent
agent for acceptance of service
agent for service of process
aggravate
aggravated assault
aggravated battery
aggravating circumstances
AGI
agreed statement of facts
agreement
aid and abet
aleatory
alias
alibi
alibi witness
alien
alien registration card (ARC)
alienation
alienation of affections
alimony
aliquot
ALJ
allegation
allege
Allen charge
alluviation
alluvion
alter ego
alternate beneficiary
alternative dispute resolution (ADR)
alternative minimum tax (AMT)
alternative pleading
alternative reproductive technology (ART)
alternative writ of mandate (mandamus)
AMBER Alert
ambiguity
amend
amended complaint
amended pleading
amended tax return
American Bar Association (ABA)
American Civil Liberties Union
American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
amicus
amicus curiae
amnesty
amortization
AMT
ancillary administration
ancillary jurisdiction
ancillary probate
angel investor
annual exclusion amount
annual exclusion gift
annual meeting
annual percentage rate
annuitant
annuity
annulment
answer
antenuptial agreement
anticipation
anticipatory breach
anticontest clause
antilapse statute
antitransfer laws
antitrust laws
APN
apparent authority
appeal
appear
appearance
appellant
appellate court
appellate jurisdiction
appellee
applicable exclusion amount
appraisal
appraise
appraiser
appreciate
appreciation
approach
approach the witness
appurtenant
APR
arbiter
arbitrary
arbitration
arbitrator
arguendo
argument
ARM
arm's length
arraignment
arrearages
arrears
arrest
arrest warrant
arson
ART
article
articles of impeachment
articles of incorporation
articles of organization
as is
assault
assault and battery
assess
assessed value
assessor
assessor's parcel number
asset
assign
assigned risk
assignee
assignment
assignment for benefit of creditors
assisted suicide
associate
Associate Justice
association
assumable mortgage
assume
assumption
assumption of risk
assured
asylum
at issue memorandum
at-will employment
attached
attachment
attempt
attest
attestation
attestation clause
attorney
attorney at law (or attorney-at-law)
attorney fees
Attorney General
attorney of record
attorney work product
attorney work product privilege
attorney's fee
attorney-client privilege
attorney-in-fact
attractive nuisance
attractive nuisance doctrine
audit
auditor
augmented estate
authenticate
author
authority
authorize
automatic stay
autopsy
avails
avowal
avulsion
award

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Nolo’s Plain-English Law Dictionary

Legal definitions from A to Z

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