|
|
|
| Illusory
promise |
|
A promise that is too indefinite to be
legally enforceable or optional for the promisor to perform. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Immunity |
|
Exemption from a duty or penalty granted to
a person or class or persons. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Impeach |
|
(a) To charge public official with
wrongdoing while in office. (b) To challenge or discredit a
witness's testimony. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Impleader |
|
Legal procedure in which a third party who
may be liable for all or part of the plaintiff's claims is brought
into a civil lawsuit. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Implied
consent |
|
Consent indicated by signs and actions or
by lack of objection. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Impossibility |
|
Doctrine that may release a party to a
contract from responsibility when uncontrollable circumstances
(death, natural disaster, etc.) make compliance impossible. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Impound |
|
To take into legal custody documents,
funds, vehicles, other property. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| In fee
simple |
|
Absolute ownership of property with no
restrictions on its transfer |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| In loco
parentis |
|
Latin for "in place of a parent." A person
or institution that assumes parental rights and duties for a
minor. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Incapacity |
|
To lack the legal, physical, or
intellectual ability to stand trial, give consent, make a valid
will. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Inchoate |
|
Acts such as attempt, solicitation, and
conspiracy that are preliminary to crime. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Incompetency |
|
Lacking legal qualifications or physical,
intellectual, or fitness to perform required duty. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Incorporate |
|
To form a corporation, an artificial entity
invested with the right to enter into contracts, buy and sell
property and other rights granted to individuals. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Incriminate |
|
To hold or charge someone with involvement
in a crime. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Incroach |
|
(also encroach) To use unlawfully or impair
title to someone's property. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Incumberance or
encumbrance |
|
Legal liabilities on real property (liens,
easement, leases, etc.) that may diminish value but do not prohibit
passing title. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Indemnify |
|
To secure against loss or damage; to
compensate or reimburse for loss or damage. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Indemnity |
|
Protection or insurance against loss; legal
exemption from penalties and liabilities. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Indicia |
|
Distinctive signs or indications that
support a belief; similar to circumstantial evidence. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Indictment |
|
Formal accusation of an offense issued by
grand jury based on evidence presented by a prosecutor. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Indigent |
|
Impoverished, unable to hire a lawyer or
afford expense of criminal defense. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Information |
|
A sworn accusation of a crime signed by a
public officer such as prosecutor that serves the same function as
indictment. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Ingress and
egress |
|
Legal right of property owner to enter
(ingress) and leave (egress) leased property. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Injunction |
|
Court document that prohibits a party or
individual from performing a particular action, or orders the
performance of a particular action. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Insanity |
|
Unsoundness of mind that prevents a person
from entering certain legal relationships and releases a person from
criminal or civil responsibility |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Insider
trading |
|
Financial transactions based on material
information not available to the public, punishable by civil and
criminal penalties. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Insolvent |
|
Unable to pay debts as they become
due. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Insurance |
|
System of protection in which one party
agrees to guarantee another against specific damages or
losses. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Intent |
|
Mental attitude at the time a person
commits criminal offense. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Inter vivos |
|
From one living person to another, as in
inter vivos gifts, trusts, etc. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Interrogatories |
|
Formal written questions that must be
answered under oath. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Intestate |
|
To die without a valid will. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Intestate
succession |
|
Distribution of property after death
according to statute rather than according to wishes expressed in
decedent's will. |
