types:
- show 133 types...
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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
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derivative, derivative instrument
a financial instrument whose value is based on another security
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negotiable instrument
an unconditional order or promise to pay an amount of money
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passport
a document issued by a country to a citizen allowing that person to travel abroad and re-enter the home country
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ship's papers
official papers which a ship is legally required to have; related to ownership, cargo, etc.
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manifest
a customs document listing the contents put on a ship or plane
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debenture
a certificate or voucher acknowledging a debt
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power of attorney
a legal instrument authorizing someone to act as the grantor's agent
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letters of administration
legal document naming someone to administer an estate when no executor has been named
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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
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work papers, work permit, working papers
a legal document giving information required for employment of certain people in certain countries
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act, enactment
a legal document codifying the result of deliberations of a committee or society or legislative body
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law
legal document setting forth rules governing a particular kind of activity
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bill, measure
a statute in draft before it becomes law
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brief, legal brief
a document stating the facts and points of law of a client's case
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testament, will
a legal document declaring a person's wishes regarding the disposal of their property when they die
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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
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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
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assignment
the instrument by which a claim or right or interest or property is transferred from one person to another
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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
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conveyance
document effecting a property transfer
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income tax return, return, tax return
document giving the tax collector information about the taxpayer's tax liability
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licence, license, permit
a legal document giving official permission to do something
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letters patent, patent
an official document granting a right or privilege
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judgement, judgment, legal opinion, opinion
the legal document stating the reasons for a judicial decision
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acquittance, release
a legal document evidencing the discharge of a debt or obligation
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judicial writ, writ
(law) a legal document issued by a court or judicial officer
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authorisation, authorization, mandate
a document giving an official instruction or command
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affidavit
written declaration made under oath; a written statement sworn to be true before someone legally authorized to administer an oath
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written agreement
a legal document summarizing the agreement between parties
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bill of indictment, indictment
a formal document written for a prosecuting attorney charging a person with some offense
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impeachment
a formal document charging a public official with misconduct in office
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arraignment
a legal document calling someone to court to answer an indictment
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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
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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
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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
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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
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contract
a binding agreement between two or more persons that is enforceable by law
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stock power
a power of attorney document to transfer ownership of a registered security from the owner to another party
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proxy
a power of attorney document given by shareholders of a corporation authorizing a specific vote on their behalf at a corporate meeting
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nullity
something that is null (especially an enactment that has no legal validity)
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anti-drug law
a law forbidding the sale or use of narcotic drugs
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RICO, RICO Act, Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, anti-racketeering law
law intended to eradicate organized crime by establishing strong sanctions and forfeiture provisions
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antitrust law, antitrust legislation
law intended to promote free competition in the market place by outlawing monopolies
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statute of limitations
a statute prescribing the time period during which legal action can be taken
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constitution, fundamental law, organic law
law determining the fundamental political principles of a government
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public law
a law affecting the public at large
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appropriation bill
a legislative act proposing to authorize the expenditure of public funds for a specified purpose
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bill of attainder
a legislative act finding a person guilty of treason or felony without a trial
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bottle bill
a statute that would require merchants to reclaim used bottles
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farm bill
a statute that would regulate farm production and prices
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trade bill
a statute that would regulate foreign trade
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blue law
a statute regulating work on Sundays
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blue sky law
a state law regulating the sale of securities in an attempt to control the sale of securities in fraudulent enterprises
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gag law
any law that limits freedom of the press
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homestead law
a law conferring privileges on owners of homesteads
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poor law
a law providing support for the poor
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Riot Act
a former English law requiring mobs to disperse after a magistrate reads the law to them
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court order
a writ issued by a court of law requiring a person to do something or to refrain from doing something
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decree, edict, fiat, order, rescript
a legally binding command or decision entered on the court record (as if issued by a court or judge)
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prohibition
a law forbidding the sale of alcoholic beverages
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amicus curiae brief
a brief presented by someone interested in influencing the outcome of a lawsuit but who is not a party to it
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bill of sale
a deed transferring personal property
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deed poll
a deed made and executed by only one party
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enfeoffment
under the feudal system, the deed by which a person was given land in exchange for a pledge of service
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mortgage deed
deed embodying a mortgage
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title deed
a legal document proving a person's right to property
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quitclaim, quitclaim deed
document transferring title or right or claim to another
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warrant
a writ from a court commanding police to perform specified acts
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amended return
a tax return that corrects the information in an earlier return
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declaration of estimated tax, estimated tax return
return required of a taxpayer whose tax withheld from income does not meet the tax liability for the year
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false return
an incorrect income tax return
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information return
a return that provides information to the tax collector but does not compute the tax liability
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joint return
a return filed by a husband and wife
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building permit
a document authorizing the holder to construct a building of a particular kind on a particular lot
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driver's licence, driver's license, driving licence, driving license
a license authorizing the bearer to drive a motor vehicle
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fishing licence, fishing license, fishing permit
a license authorizing the bearer to fish during a specified period of time
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game license, hunting licence, hunting license, hunting permit
a license authorizing the bearer to kill a certain type of animal during a specified period of time
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learner's permit
a document authorizing the bearer to learn to drive an automobile
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letter of mark and reprisal, letter of marque, letters of marque
a license to a private citizen to seize property of another nation
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liquor licence, liquor license
a license authorizing the holder to sell alcoholic beverages
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marriage licence, marriage license, wedding licence, wedding license
a license authorizing two people to marry
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occupation licence, occupation license
a license to pursue a particular occupation
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concurring opinion
an opinion that agrees with the court's disposition of the case but is written to express a particular judge's reasoning
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dissenting opinion
an opinion that disagrees with the court's disposition of the case
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majority opinion
the opinion joined by a majority of the court (generally known simply as `the opinion')
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assize
an ancient writ issued by a court of assize to the sheriff for the recovery of property
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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
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habeas corpus, writ of habeas corpus
a writ ordering a prisoner to be brought before a judge
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venire facias
a judicial writ ordering a sheriff to summon people for jury duty
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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
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attachment
a writ authorizing the seizure of property that may be needed for the payment of a judgment in a judicial proceeding
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fieri facias
a writ ordering a levy on the belongings of a debtor to satisfy the debt
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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
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sequestration
a writ that authorizes the seizure of property
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writ of detinue
a writ ordering the release of goods that have been unlawfully detained
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writ of election
a writ ordering the holding of an election
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writ of error
a judicial writ from an appellate court ordering the court of record to produce the records of trial
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writ of prohibition
a judicial writ from a higher court ordering a lower court not to exercise jurisdiction in a particular case
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writ of right
a writ ordering that land be restored to its rightful owner
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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
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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
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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
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legislative act, statute
an act passed by a legislative body
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liberty chit, pass
a permit to enter or leave a military installation
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verification
(law) an affidavit attached to a statement confirming the truth of that statement
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fatwah
(Islam) a legal opinion or ruling issued by an Islamic scholar
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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
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submission
a legal document summarizing an agreement between parties in a dispute to abide by the decision of an arbiter
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compact, concordat, covenant
a signed written agreement between two or more parties (nations) to perform some action
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indenture
formal agreement between the issuer of bonds and the bondholders as to terms of the debt
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obligation
a legal agreement specifying a payment or action and the penalty for failure to comply
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accord, pact, treaty
a written agreement between two states or sovereigns
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murder charge, murder indictment
an indictment charging someone with murder
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true bill
an indictment endorsed by a grand jury
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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
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agency security, government security
a security issued by United States government agencies or the Farm Credit System
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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
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registered security
a security whose owner's name is recorded on the books of the issuer (or issuer's agent)
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bill of exchange, draft, order of payment
a document ordering the payment of money; drawn by one person or bank on another
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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
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devise
a will disposing of real property
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scrip
a certificate whose value is recognized by the payer and payee; scrip is not currency but may be convertible into currency
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stock, stock certificate
a certificate documenting the shareholder's ownership in the corporation
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tax-exempt, tax-exempt security
a security that is not subject to taxation
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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
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zero coupon security, zero-coupon security
a security that makes no interest payments but instead is sold at a deep discount from its face value
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partnership certificate
a certificate showing the interests of all parties in a business partnership
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proprietorship certificate
a certificate showing who is responsible in an individually owned business
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convertible, convertible security
a corporate security (usually bonds or preferred stock) that can be exchanged for another form of security (usually common stock)
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letter security
a stock or bond that is not registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission and cannot be sold in the public market
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listed security
a security that has been accepted for trading by one of the organized and registered securities exchanges in the US
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OTC security, over the counter security, unlisted security
a security traded in the over-the-counter market