acceptance - Answers The second party's unqualified willingness to go along with the first party's
proposal
accord and satisfaction - Answers A legal way to settle contractual disputes by which one party agrees to
accept less than the amount due as full payment
actual authority - Answers The real power a principal gives to an agent
actual notice - Answers A formal notice given directly to a party, usually using certified mail with a
receipt
adhesion contract - Answers A take-it-or-leave-it offer made by a party who holds most of the power in
a bargaining session
administrative law - Answers The body of rules created by government agencies
adultery - Answers When one spouse has sexual relations with someone outside of marriage
affinity - Answers Related by marriage
agency - Answers A type of working relationship in which one person represents another person in a
business transaction with a third party
agency by estoppel - Answers When the principal's actions lead the third party to believe that the agent
is working for the principal
agent - Answers The person who has been authorized to do the work
agent's agent - Answers An agent who is appointed by another agent without the principal's authority to
do so
alimony - Answers An allowance for support paid to one person by the former spouse in a divorce
alternative dispute resolution (ADR) - Answers Parties try to resolve disagreements outside of the usual
court system, by mediation, arbitration, conciliation, and negotiation
annual percentage rate (APR) - Answers The true interest rate of a loan
annulment - Answers A declaration by the court that a marriage was never valid
apparent authority - Answers Authority that a third party believes an agent has while acting on behalf of
the principal
appellate court - Answers The U.S. courts of appeals in the federal system; hears appeals and reviews
cases from the lower courts
, arraignment - Answers A formal hearing during which the defendant is read the indictment or
information and is asked to plead guilty or not guilty
arrest - Answers Occurs when a person is legally deprived of his or her freedom
articles of incorporation - Answers A legal document filed with the state to establish a corporation
assault - Answers Attempt to commit a battery
asset acquisition - Answers When one corporation agrees to purchase the assets, such as property,
buildings, and equipment, of a second corporation
assignment - Answers The transfer of a right under contract
assumption of risk - Answers A defense against negligence that is raised when the plaintiff knew of the
risk and still took the chance of being injured
bail - Answers Money or other property that is left with the court to assure that a person who has been
arrested, but released, will return to trial
bailment - Answers The transfer of possession and control of personal property to another with the
intent that the same property will be returned later
bankruptcy - Answers The legal process by which a debtor can make a fresh start through the sale of
assets to pay off creditors
battery - Answers The unlawful touching of another person
beneficiary - Answers The person named in an insurance policy to receive the proceeds of the policy
bigamy - Answers The illegal act of having two spouses at the same time
bilateral contract - Answers A contract that contains two promises: one party promises to do something
in exchange for the other's promise to do something else
bill of sale - Answers Formal evidence of ownership
breach of contract - Answers When one party to a contract fails to perform the duties spelled out by the
contract
burglary - Answers Breaking and entering a house or other structure to commit a felony
capacity - Answers The legal ability to enter into a contract
carrier - Answers A business that transports persons, goods, or both
certificate of incorporation - Answers A corporation's official authorization to do business in a state