Legal Term Dictionary

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  • LEGIT VEL NON?
    In old English practice, this was the formal question propounded to the ordinary when a prisoner claimed the benefit of clergy,-does he read or not? If the ordinary found that the prisoner was entitled to clergy, his formal answer was, "Legit ut clericus," he reads like a clerk.
  • LEGITIM
    In Scotch law. The children's share In the father's movables.
  • LEGITIMACY
    Lawful birth; the condition of being born in wedlock; the opposite of illegitimacy or bastardy. Davenport v. Caldwell, 10 S. 0. 837; Pratt v. Pratt 5 Mo. App. 54L
  • LEGITIMATE
    v. To make lawful; to confer legitimacy; to place a child born before marriage on the footing of those born in lawful wedlock. McKamie v. Baskerville, 86 Tenn. 459, 7 S. W. 194; Blythe r. Ayres, 96 Cal. 532, 31 Pac. 915, 19 L. R. A. 40.
  • LEGITIMATE
    adj. That which is lawful, legal, recognized by law, or according to law; as legitimate children, legitimate authority, or lawful power. Wilson v. Babb, 18 S. C. 69; Gates v. Seibert, 157 Mo. 254, 57 S. W. 1065, 80 Am. St. Rep. 625.
  • LEGITIMATION
    The making legitimate or lawful that which was not originally so; especially the act of legalizing the status of a bastard. -Legitimation per smbseqnens matrimo- nlum. The legitimation of a bastard by the subsequent marriage of his parents. Bell.
  • LEGITIME
    Lat. In the civil law. That portion of a parent's estate of which he cannot disinherit his children without a legal cause. Miller v. Miller, 105 La. 257, 29 South. 802; Cox v. Von Ahlefeldt 50 La, Ann. 1266, 23 South. 959. Legitime imperantl parere neeesae est Jenk. Cent. 120. More...
  • LEGITIMI HAEREDES
    Lat. In Roman law. Legitimate heirs; the agnate relations of the estate-leaver; so called because .the inheritance was given to them by a law of the Twelve Tables.
  • LEGITIMUS
    Lawful; legitimate. Legitimus hares et fllius est quern nuptics demons tr ant t a lawful son and heir is he whom the marriage points out to be lawful. Bract foL 68.
  • LEGO
    Lat. In Roman law. I bequeath. A common term in wills. Dig. 30, 36, 81, et seq.
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