types:
articles of incorporation
a legal document that creates a corporation; it is filed with a state by the founders of a corporation and is governed by the laws of the state
passport
a document issued by a country to a citizen allowing that person to travel abroad and re-enter the home country
ship's papers
official papers which a ship is legally required to have; related to ownership, cargo, etc.
manifest
a customs document listing the contents put on a ship or plane
debenture
a certificate or voucher acknowledging a debt
power of attorney
a legal instrument authorizing someone to act as the grantor's agent
letters testamentary
a legal document from a probate court or court officer informing you of your appointment as executor of a will and empowering you to discharge those responsibilities
act,
enactment
a legal document codifying the result of deliberations of a committee or society or legislative body
law
legal document setting forth rules governing a particular kind of activity
brief,
legal brief
a document stating the facts and points of law of a client's case
testament,
will
a legal document declaring a person's wishes regarding the disposal of their property when they die
living will
a document written by someone still legally capable requesting that he should be allowed to die if subsequently severely disabled or suffering terminal illness
deed,
deed of conveyance,
title
a legal document signed and sealed and delivered to effect a transfer of property and to show the legal right to possess it
assignment
the instrument by which a claim or right or interest or property is transferred from one person to another
deed of trust,
trust deed
a written instrument legally conveying property to a trustee often used to secure an obligation such as a mortgage or promissory note
affidavit
written declaration made under oath; a written statement sworn to be true before someone legally authorized to administer an oath
impeachment
a formal document charging a public official with misconduct in office
arraignment
a legal document calling someone to court to answer an indictment
certificate,
security
a formal declaration that documents a fact of relevance to finance and investment; the holder has a right to receive interest or dividends
Old Testament
the collection of books comprising the sacred scripture of the Hebrews and recording their history as the chosen people; the first half of the Christian Bible
New Testament
the collection of books of the Gospels, Acts of the Apostles, the Pauline and other epistles, and Revelation; composed soon after Christ's death; the second half of the Christian Bible
futures contract
an agreement to buy or sell a specific amount of a commodity or financial instrument at a particular price on a stipulated future date; the contract can be sold before the settlement date
contract
a binding agreement between two or more persons that is enforceable by law
stock power
a power of attorney document to transfer ownership of a registered security from the owner to another party
proxy
a power of attorney document given by shareholders of a corporation authorizing a specific vote on their behalf at a corporate meeting
nullity
something that is null (especially an enactment that has no legal validity)
appropriation bill
a legislative act proposing to authorize the expenditure of public funds for a specified purpose
bill of attainder
a legislative act finding a person guilty of treason or felony without a trial
bottle bill
a statute that would require merchants to reclaim used bottles
farm bill
a statute that would regulate farm production and prices
trade bill
a statute that would regulate foreign trade
blue law
a statute regulating work on Sundays
blue sky law
a state law regulating the sale of securities in an attempt to control the sale of securities in fraudulent enterprises
gag law
any law that limits freedom of the press
homestead law
a law conferring privileges on owners of homesteads
poor law
a law providing support for the poor
Riot Act
a former English law requiring mobs to disperse after a magistrate reads the law to them
court order
a writ issued by a court of law requiring a person to do something or to refrain from doing something
prohibition
a law forbidding the sale of alcoholic beverages
amicus curiae brief
a brief presented by someone interested in influencing the outcome of a lawsuit but who is not a party to it
deed poll
a deed made and executed by only one party
enfeoffment
under the feudal system, the deed by which a person was given land in exchange for a pledge of service
title deed
a legal document proving a person's right to property
warrant
a writ from a court commanding police to perform specified acts
amended return
a tax return that corrects the information in an earlier return
information return
a return that provides information to the tax collector but does not compute the tax liability
building permit
a document authorizing the holder to construct a building of a particular kind on a particular lot
learner's permit
a document authorizing the bearer to learn to drive an automobile
concurring opinion
an opinion that agrees with the court's disposition of the case but is written to express a particular judge's reasoning
majority opinion
the opinion joined by a majority of the court (generally known simply as `the opinion')
assize
an ancient writ issued by a court of assize to the sheriff for the recovery of property
certiorari,
writ of certiorari
a common law writ issued by a superior court to one of inferior jurisdiction demanding the record of a particular case
venire facias
a judicial writ ordering a sheriff to summon people for jury duty
mandamus,
writ of mandamus
an extraordinary writ commanding an official to perform a ministerial act that the law recognizes as an absolute duty and not a matter for the official's discretion; used only when all other judicial remedies fail
attachment
a writ authorizing the seizure of property that may be needed for the payment of a judgment in a judicial proceeding
fieri facias
a writ ordering a levy on the belongings of a debtor to satisfy the debt
scire facias
a judicial writ based on some record and requiring the party against whom it is brought to show cause why the record should not be enforced or annulled
writ of detinue
a writ ordering the release of goods that have been unlawfully detained
writ of error
a judicial writ from an appellate court ordering the court of record to produce the records of trial
writ of prohibition
a judicial writ from a higher court ordering a lower court not to exercise jurisdiction in a particular case
writ of right
a writ ordering that land be restored to its rightful owner
process,
summons
a writ issued by authority of law; usually compels the defendant's attendance in a civil suit; failure to appear results in a default judgment against the defendant
subpoena,
subpoena ad testificandum
a writ issued by court authority to compel the attendance of a witness at a judicial proceeding; disobedience may be punishable as a contempt of court
subpoena duces tecum
a writ issued by a court at the request of one of the parties to a suit; it requires a witness to bring to court or to a deposition any relevant documents under the witness's control
verification
(law) an affidavit attached to a statement confirming the truth of that statement
fatwah
(Islam) a legal opinion or ruling issued by an Islamic scholar
dictum,
obiter dictum
an opinion voiced by a judge on a point of law not directly bearing on the case in question and therefore not binding
submission
a legal document summarizing an agreement between parties in a dispute to abide by the decision of an arbiter
indenture
formal agreement between the issuer of bonds and the bondholders as to terms of the debt
obligation
a legal agreement specifying a payment or action and the penalty for failure to comply
true bill
an indictment endorsed by a grand jury
option
the right to buy or sell property at an agreed price; the right is purchased and if it is not exercised by a stated date the money is forfeited
mortgage-backed security
a security created when a group of mortgages are gathered together and bonds are sold to other institutions or the public; investors receive a portion of the interest payments on the mortgages as well as the principal payments; usually guaranteed by the government
registered security
a security whose owner's name is recorded on the books of the issuer (or issuer's agent)
escrow
a written agreement (or property or money) delivered to a third party or put in trust by one party to a contract to be returned after fulfillment of some condition
devise
a will disposing of real property
scrip
a certificate whose value is recognized by the payer and payee; scrip is not currency but may be convertible into currency
bond,
bond certificate
a certificate of debt (usually interest-bearing or discounted) that is issued by a government or corporation in order to raise money; the issuer is required to pay a fixed sum annually until maturity and then a fixed sum to repay the principal
convertible,
convertible security
a corporate security (usually bonds or preferred stock) that can be exchanged for another form of security (usually common stock)
letter security
a stock or bond that is not registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission and cannot be sold in the public market
listed security
a security that has been accepted for trading by one of the organized and registered securities exchanges in the US