A declaration is an official statement, or proclamation, such as an affidavit. If the person making the declaration (called the declarant) lies in it, the declarant may be guilty of perjury.
[Last updated in September of 2022 by the...
legal education and writing
defense
A defense is an act of protecting one’s own interests. In common law, a defendant may use defenses to prevent or limit liability. A defense can either allege a failure to state a claim, or affirm the existence of a claim and present...
definitions
A definition is a statement describing something's meaning or fundamental character. Definitions are critical to the operation of the rule of law. Often a legal dispute centers on the meaning of a particular word in a statute, contract, or...
descriptive
The nature of a statement that claims to describe reality. A descriptive theory is one that claims to describe how things really are, as opposed to how they should be. See also: prescriptive (contrast).
Descriptive, in law,...
dicta
Dicta is short for the Latin phrase obiter dictum, meaning "something said in passing."
Dicta in law refers to a comment, suggestion, or observation made by a judge in an opinion that is not necessary to resolve the case,...
disbar
Disbarment is the most severe sanction for attorney misconduct, which involves the removal of an attorney's license to practice law. Since the court has exclusive responsibility to license lawyers, it has sole authority / discretion to remove the...
disbarment
Disbarment is the most severe sanction for attorney misconduct, which involves the removal of an attorney's license to practice law. Since the court has exclusive responsibility to license lawyers, it has sole authority / discretion to remove...
doctrine
A doctrine is a single important rule, a set of rules, a theory, or a principle that is widely followed in a field of law. It is formed via the continuous application of legal precedents. Calling something a doctrine usually means at least...
draw
To draw is to produce, create, or make any picture or line. Some common usage of the term “draw” in a legal sense include:
The withdrawal of money from a bank account, such as through presenting a check. To receive money in advance,...due care
Due care, also referred to as ordinary care and reasonable care, is the standard of care where a reasonable person would exercise in the same situation or under similar circumstances. This standard of care is used in a tort action to...