Legal Terms Starting with S
Search Warrant
A court order authorizing law enforcement to search a specific location for evidence of criminal activity.
Criminal ProcedureSelf-Defense
The legal right to use reasonable force to protect oneself from imminent harm or unlawful attack.
Criminal LawSettlement
A mutually agreed resolution of a legal dispute without trial, often involving monetary payment or other terms.
Civil LitigationShareholder
A person or entity owning shares in a corporation, possessing ownership interest and certain rights.
Corporate LawSlander
Spoken defamatory statements that harm another person's reputation without legal justification.
Tort LawSole Proprietorship
A business owned and operated by one individual with no legal distinction between owner and business entity.
Business LawSpecific Performance
A court-ordered remedy requiring a party to fulfill contractual obligations rather than paying damages.
Contract LawStandard of Proof
The level of certainty required to establish facts in legal proceedings, varying by case type.
Evidence LawStare Decisis
Latin for "to stand by things decided" - the doctrine of following judicial precedent in similar cases.
Legal TheoryStatute
A written law enacted by a legislative body at the federal, state, or local level.
Legislative LawStatute of Limitations
A law setting the maximum time period within which legal proceedings must be initiated.
Civil ProcedureStay
A court order temporarily suspending or halting legal proceedings or enforcement of a judgment.
Court ProcedureStipulation
An agreement between parties regarding facts, procedures, or evidence to simplify or expedite litigation.
Civil ProcedureStrict Liability
Legal responsibility for damages regardless of fault or negligence, often applied to inherently dangerous activities.
Tort LawSubpoena
A court order commanding a person to testify at a proceeding or produce documents and evidence.
Court ProcedureSummary Judgment
A court decision rendered without trial when no genuine dispute exists regarding material facts.
Civil ProcedureSummons
A legal notice requiring the recipient to appear in court or respond to a complaint by a specified deadline.
Civil ProcedureSuppression of Evidence
Exclusion of illegally obtained evidence from trial, typically due to constitutional violations.
Criminal ProcedureSurety
A person or entity that guarantees payment or performance of another's obligation if they default.
Contract LawSurvivorship
The right of joint property owners to automatically inherit the deceased owner's share.
Property LawSuspended Sentence
A criminal sentence postponed on condition of good behavior, avoiding immediate incarceration.
Criminal LawSeverability
A contract provision ensuring invalid portions can be removed while the remainder stays enforceable.
Contract LawSovereign Immunity
Legal doctrine preventing lawsuits against the government without its consent.
Government LawSecurities
Financial instruments representing ownership, debt, or rights to buy or sell, regulated by securities laws.
Securities Law