Legal Terms Starting with Q
Q-words are unusually concentrated in Latin legal expressions ("quid pro quo," "quo warranto," "quantum meruit"). Outside the Latin, Q shows up in real-estate vocabulary (quitclaim deeds, quiet title) and corporate practice (quorum, qualified opinion). The most-encountered are below.
Qualified Immunity
Legal protection shielding government officials from civil liability unless they violated clearly established rights.
Civil RightsQuantum Meruit
Latin for "as much as deserved" - recovery for reasonable value of services rendered without a contract.
Contract LawQuash
To nullify, void, or set aside a court order, subpoena, or indictment through judicial action.
Court ProcedureQuasi-Contract
An obligation imposed by law to prevent unjust enrichment, despite no actual contract existing between parties.
Contract LawQuid Pro Quo
Latin for "something for something" - an exchange of value or favor, often used in harassment and bribery contexts.
General Legal TermsQuiet Title
A lawsuit to establish ownership of property and remove clouds or disputes over title.
Real EstateQuitclaim Deed
A document transferring whatever interest the grantor has in property without warranties of ownership or title quality.
Real EstateQuorum
The minimum number of members required to be present for a body to conduct official business or vote validly.
Corporate LawQuo Warranto
Latin for "by what authority" - a legal proceeding challenging a person's right to hold public office or exercise power.
Administrative LawQuestion of Fact
An issue concerning what actually happened or exists, typically decided by a jury rather than a judge.
Trial PracticeQuestion of Law
An issue concerning the application or interpretation of legal rules, decided by a judge rather than a jury. Appellate courts review questions of law without deference to the trial court.
Appellate LawQualified Opinion
An auditor's report indicating the financial statements are presented fairly except for one or more specific issues identified in the report. Common in business and securities contexts.
Business LawQualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO)
A court order used in divorce to divide retirement-plan benefits between spouses without triggering early-withdrawal penalties. Required for plans governed by ERISA.
Family LawQuasi in Rem
A type of court jurisdiction over a defendant's property within the forum state used to resolve claims connected to that property, when personal jurisdiction over the defendant is otherwise unavailable.
Civil ProcedureQuasi-Judicial
Describes administrative-agency proceedings that resemble court hearings — sworn testimony, evidence, written findings — but are conducted by an agency rather than a court.
Administrative Law