Legal Term Dictionary

In Spanish law. Everything done contrary to a duty or obligation assumed, as well as in opposition to the piety and affection dictated by nature. Escrlche.

In Spanish law. Everything done contrary to a duty or obligation assumed, as well as in opposition to the piety and affection dictated by nature. Escrlche. Less...

Lat. Destitute of counsel; without legal counsel. A term applied to the acts or condition of one acting without legal advice, as a testator drafting his own will.

Lat. Destitute of counsel; without legal counsel. A term applied to the acts or condition of one acting without legal advice, as a testator drafting his own will. Less...

An intestate.

An intestate. Less...

In old English law. A customary payment of a penny on entering into and going out of a tenancy (pro exitu de tenura, et pro ingressu.) Spelman.

In old English law. A customary payment of a penny on entering into and going out of a tenancy (pro exitu de tenura, et pro ingressu.) Spelman. Less...

1. A body of men appointed by law to inquire into certain matters. The grand jury is sometimes called the "grand-inquest" 2. The judicial inquiry made by a jury summoned for the purpose is called an "inquest" The finding of such men, upon an investigation, is also called an "inquest" More...

1. A body of men appointed by law to inquire into certain matters. The grand jury is sometimes called the "grand-inquest" 2. The judicial inquiry made by a jury summoned for the purpose is called an "inquest" The finding of such men, upon an investigation, is also called an "inquest" People v. Coombs, 36 App. Div. 284, 55 N. Y-Supp. 276; Davis v. Bibb County, 116 Ga. 23, 42 S. E. 403. 3. The inquiry by a coroner, termed a "coroner's inquest," into the manner of the death of any one who has been slain, or has died suddenly or in prison. 4. This name is also given to a species of proceeding under the New York practice, allowable where the defendant in a civil action has not filed an affidavit of merits nor verified his answer. In such case the issue may be taken up, out of its regular order, on plaintiff's motion, and tried without the admission of any affirmative defense. An inquest is a trial of an issue of fact where the plaintiff alone introduces testimony. The defendant is entitled to appear at the taking of the inquest, and to cross-examine the plaintiff's witnesses; and, if he do appear, the inquest must be taken before a jury, unless a jury be expressly waived by him. Haines v. Davis, 6 How. Prac. (N. Y.) 118. -Coroner's inqnest. See CORONER.-Inquest of lunacy. See LUNACY.-Inquest of office. In English practice. An Inquiry made made by the king's (or queen's) officer, his sheriff, coroner, or escheator, virtute officii, or by writ sent to them for that purpose, or by commissioners specially appointed, concerning any matter that entitles the king to the possession of lands or tenements, goods or chattels; as to inquire whether the king's tenant for life died seised, whereby the reversion accrues to the king; whether A., who held immediately of the crown, died without heir, in which case the lands belong to the king by escheat; whether B. be attainted of treason, whereby his estate is forfeited to the crown; whether C, who has purchased land, be an alien, which is another cause of forfeiture, etc 3 Bl. Oomm. 258*. These inquests of office were more frequent in practice during the continuance of the military, tenures than at present; and were devised by faw as an authentic means to give the king his right by solemn matter of record. Id. 258, 259; 4 Steph. Comm. 40, 41. Sometimes simply termed "office" as in the phrase "office found." fa. 1?.) See Atlantic & P. R. Co. .v. Mingus, 105 U. ? 413, 17 Sup. Ct. 348, 41 I* Ed. 770; Baker v. Shy, 9 Heisk. (Tenn.) 89. Less...

In Roman law. A tenant; one who hires and occupies another's house; but particularly, a tenant of a hired house in a city, as distinguished from colo-nus, the hirer of a house or estate in the country. Calvin.

In Roman law. A tenant; one who hires and occupies another's house; but particularly, a tenant of a hired house in a city, as distinguished from colo-nus, the hirer of a house or estate in the country. Calvin. Less...

An authority given to some official person to Institute an inquiry, concerning the crown's interests.

An authority given to some official person to Institute an inquiry, concerning the crown's interests. Less...

The writ of inquiry is a judicial process addressed to the sheriff of the county in which the venue is laid, stating the former proceedings in the action, and, "because it is unknown what damages the plaintiff has sustained," commanding the sheriff that, by the oath of twelve men of More...

The writ of inquiry is a judicial process addressed to the sheriff of the county in which the venue is laid, stating the former proceedings in the action, and, "because it is unknown what damages the plaintiff has sustained," commanding the sheriff that, by the oath of twelve men of his county, he diligently inquire into the same, and return the inquisition Into court. This writ is necessary after an interlocutory judgment, the defendant having let judgment go by default, to ascertain the quantum of damages. Wharton. Less...

In old English law. An inquisition or inquest. Inquisitio post mortem, an inquisition after death. An Inquest of office held, during the continuance of the military tenures, upon the death of every one of the king's tenants, to inquire of what lands he died seised, who was his heir, and More...

In old English law. An inquisition or inquest. Inquisitio post mortem, an inquisition after death. An Inquest of office held, during the continuance of the military tenures, upon the death of every one of the king's tenants, to inquire of what lands he died seised, who was his heir, and of what age, in order to entitle the king to his marriage, wardship, relief, primer seisin, or other advantages, as the circumstances of the case might turn out. 3 Bl. Comm. 258. Inquisitio patHo3t the inquisition of the country; the ordinary jury, as distinguished from the grand assise. Bract fol. 15b. Less...

In practice. An inquiry or inquest ; particularly, an investigation of certain facts made by a sheriff, together with a jury impaneled by him for the purpose. -Inquisition after death. See INQUISITIO. Inquisition of lunacy. See LUNACY.

In practice. An inquiry or inquest ; particularly, an investigation of certain facts made by a sheriff, together with a jury impaneled by him for the purpose. -Inquisition after death. See INQUISITIO. Inquisition of lunacy. See LUNACY. Less...