Legal Term Dictionary

In feudal law. To transfer or turn over to another. Where a lord aliened his seigniory, he might, with the consent of the tenant, and in some cases without attorn or transfer the homage and service of the latter to the alienee or new lord. Bract fols. 81b, 82. In More...

In feudal law. To transfer or turn over to another. Where a lord aliened his seigniory, he might, with the consent of the tenant, and in some cases without attorn or transfer the homage and service of the latter to the alienee or new lord. Bract fols. 81b, 82. In modern law. To consent to the transfer of a rent or reversion. A tenant is said to attorn when he agrees to become the tenant of the person to whom the reversion has been granted. See ATTORNMENT. Less...

In feudal law. To attorn; to transfer or turn over; to appoint an attorney or substitute. —Attornare rem. To turn over money or goods, i. e., to assign or appropriate them to some particular use or service.

In feudal law. To attorn; to transfer or turn over; to appoint an attorney or substitute. —Attornare rem. To turn over money or goods, i. e., to assign or appropriate them to some particular use or service. Less...

In old English law. An obsolete writ which commanded a sheriff or steward of a county court or hundred court to receive and admit an attorney to appear for the person who owed suit of court. Fitzh. Nat Brev. 156.

In old English law. An obsolete writ which commanded a sheriff or steward of a county court or hundred court to receive and admit an attorney to appear for the person who owed suit of court. Fitzh. Nat Brev. 156. Less...

L. Fr. In old English law. An attorney. Britt c. 126.

L. Fr. In old English law. An attorney. Britt c. 126. Less...

In the most general sense this term denotes an agent or substitute, or one who is appointed and authorized to act in the place or stead of another. In re Ricker, 66 N. H. 207, 29 Atl. 559, 24 L. R. A. 740; Eichelberger v. Sifford, 27 Md. 320. It More...

In the most general sense this term denotes an agent or substitute, or one who is appointed and authorized to act in the place or stead of another. In re Ricker, 66 N. H. 207, 29 Atl. 559, 24 L. R. A. 740; Eichelberger v. Sifford, 27 Md. 320. It is "an ancient English word, and signifieth one that is set in the turne, stead, or place of another; and of these some be private * * * and some be publike, as attorneys at law." Co. Litt. 51b, 128a; Britt. 285b. One who is appointed by another to do something in his absence, and who has authority to act in the place and turn of him by whom he is delegated. When used with reference to the proceedings of courts, or the transaction of business in the courts, the term always means "attorney at law," q. v. And see People v. May, 3 Mich. 605; Kelly v. Herb, 147 Pa. 563, 23 AU. 889; Clark v. Morse, 16 La. 576. —Attorney ad hoc. See AD HOC—Attorney at large. In old practice. An attorney who practised in all the courts. Cowell.—Attorney in fact. A private attorney authorized by another to act in his place and stead, either for some particular purpose, as to do a particular act, or for the transaction of business in general, not of a legal character. This authority is conferred by an instrument in writing, called a "letter of attorney," or more commonly a "power of attorney." Treat v. Tolman, 113 Fed. 893, 51 C. C. A. 522; Hall v. Sawyer, 47 Barb. (N. Y.) 119; White v. Furgcson, 29 Ind. App. 144, 64 N. E. 49.—Attorney of record. The one whose name is entered on the record of an action or suit as the attorney of a designated party thereto. De-laney v. Husband, 64 N. J. Law, 275. 45 Atl. 265.—Attorney of the wards and liveries. In English law. This was the third officer of the duchy court. Bac. Abr. "Attorney."— Public attorney. This name is sometimes given to an attorney at law, as distinguished from a private attorney, or attorney in fact-Attorney's certificate. In English law. A certificate that the attorney named has paid the annual tax or duty. This is required to be taken out every year by all practising attorneys under a penalty of fifty pounds.—Attorney's lien. See LIEN.—Letter of attorney. A power of attorney; a written instrument by which one person constitutes another his true and lawful attorney, in order that the latter may do for the former, and in his place and stead, some lawful act. People v. Smith, 112 Mich. 192, 70 N. W. 406, 07 Am. St. Rep. 392; Civ. Code La. 1900, art. 2985. Less...

An advocate, counsel, official agent employed in preparing, managing, and trying cases in the courts. An officer in a court of justice, who is employed by a party in a cause to manage the same for him. In English law. An attorney at law was a public officer belonging to More...

An advocate, counsel, official agent employed in preparing, managing, and trying cases in the courts. An officer in a court of justice, who is employed by a party in a cause to manage the same for him. In English law. An attorney at law was a public officer belonging to the superior courts of common law at Westminster, who conducted legal proceedings on behalf of others, called his clients, by whom he was retained; he answered to the solicitor in the courts of chancery and the proctor of the admiralty, ecclesiastical, probate, and divorce courts. An attorney was almost invariably also a solicitor. It is now provided by the judicature act, 1873, § 87, that solicitors, attorneys, or proctors of, or by law empowered, to practise in, any court the jurisdiction of which is by that act transferred to the high court of justice or the court of appeal, shall be called "solicitors of the supreme court" Wharton. Tbe term is in use in America, and in most of the states includes "barrister," "counsellor," and "solicitor," in the sense in which those terms are used in England. In some states, as well as in the United States supreme court, "attorney" and "counsellor'' are distinguishable, the former term being applied to the younger members of the bar, and to those who carry on the practice and formal parts of the suit, while "counsellor" is the adviser, or special counsel retained to try the cause. In some jurisdictions one must have been an attorney for a given time before he can be admitted to practise as a counsellor. Rap. & L. Less...

In English law. The chief law officer of the realm, being created by letters patent, whose office is to exhibit informations and prosecute for the crown in matters criminal, and to file bills in the exchequer in any matter concerning the king's revenue. State v. Cunningham, S3 Wis. 90, 53 More...

In English law. The chief law officer of the realm, being created by letters patent, whose office is to exhibit informations and prosecute for the crown in matters criminal, and to file bills in the exchequer in any matter concerning the king's revenue. State v. Cunningham, S3 Wis. 90, 53 N. W. 35, 17 L. R. A. 145, 35 Am. St. Rep. 27. In American law. The attorney general of the United States is the head of the department of justice, appointed by the president and a member of the cabinet. He appears in behalf of the government in all cases in the supreme court in which it is interested, and gives his legal advice to the president and heads of departments upon questions submitted to him. In each state also there is an attorney general, or similar officer, who appears for the people, as in England the attorney general appears for the crown. State v. District Court, 22 Mont. 25, 55 Pac. 916; People v. Kramer, 33 Misc. Rep. 209. 68 N. Y. Supp. 383. Less...

The office of an agent or attorney.

The office of an agent or attorney. Less...

In feudal and old English law. A turning over or transfer by a lord of the services of his tenant to the grantee of his seigniory. Attornment is the act of a person who holds a leasehold interest in land, or estate for life or years, by which he agrees More...

In feudal and old English law. A turning over or transfer by a lord of the services of his tenant to the grantee of his seigniory. Attornment is the act of a person who holds a leasehold interest in land, or estate for life or years, by which he agrees to become the tenant of a stranger who has acquired the fee in the land, or the remainder or reversion, or the right to the rent or services by which the tenant holds. Lindley v. Daklu, 13 Ind. 388 ; Willis v. Moore, 59 Tex. 636, 46 Am. Rep. 284; Foster v. Morris, 3 A. K. Marsh. (Ky.) 610, 13 Am. Dec. 205. Less...

In case of need. A French phrase sometimes incorporated In a bill of exchange, pointing out some person from whom payment may be sought in case the drawee fails or refuses to pay the bill. Story, Bills, i 65.

In case of need. A French phrase sometimes incorporated In a bill of exchange, pointing out some person from whom payment may be sought in case the drawee fails or refuses to pay the bill. Story, Bills, i 65. Less...