Duhaime.org
Law · Legal Information · Justice
 
G
Legal definitions for terms and concepts beginning with G

Garnishment
The seizing of a person's property, credit or salary, on the basis of a law which allows it, and for the purposes of paying off a debt.
Expanded Legal Definition of Garnishment
Gavel
A wooden mallet used by a judge to bring proceedings to a start or to an end or to command attention in his or her court.
Expanded Legal Definition of Gavel
General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT)
Multilateral international treaty first created in 1947 and frequently amended (most recently in 1994) to which 125 countries subscribe.
Expanded Legal Definition of General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT)
General Average
A principle of maritime law where in the event of emergency, if cargo is jettisoned or expenses incurred, the loss is shared proportionately by all parties with a financial interest in the voyage.
Expanded Legal Definition of General Average
General Counsel
The senior lawyer of a corporation.
Expanded Legal Definition of General Counsel
General Deterrence
A sentencing objective which aims to discourage persons other than the offender, from committing a similar offence.
Expanded Legal Definition of General Deterrence
General Partner
The individual in a limited liability partnership business structure, who oversees the management of the business, and who is personally exposed to the debts of the business.
Expanded Legal Definition of General Partner
Genocide
Systematic killing of persons because of their ethnicity.
Expanded Legal Definition of Genocide
Gerrymander
The intentional setting of electoral boundaries taking into account traditional voting patterns, so as to attempt to influence the taking of an elected office.
Expanded Legal Definition of Gerrymander
Gift
A transfer of property with nothing given in return.
Expanded Legal Definition of Gift
Gift Over
To provide for the gift of property to a second recipient if a certain event occurs, such as the death of the first recipient.
Expanded Legal Definition of Gift Over
God
Supreme being.
Expanded Legal Definition of God
Golden Rule
A rule of statutory or legal document interpretation which allows a shift from the ordinary sense of as word(s) if the overall content of the document demands it.
Expanded Legal Definition of Golden Rule
Goods
A chattel which is, generally, subject to sale.
Expanded Legal Definition of Goods
Goodwill
An intangible business asset which includes a cultivated reputation and consequential attraction and confidence of repeat customers and connections.
Expanded Legal Definition of Goodwill
Government
Organization of law-making and law enforcement; the form and institutions by which law and order are developed and maintained in a society.
Expanded Legal Definition of Government
Grand Jury
An American criminal justice procedure whereby, in each court district, a group of 16-23 citizens hold an inquiry on criminal complaints brought by the prosecutor and decide if a trial is warranted, in which case an indictment is issued.
Expanded Legal Definition of Grand Jury
Gravamen
The material part or essence of a charge, grievance or complaint.
Expanded Legal Definition of Gravamen
Grievance
A claim by a union or a unionized employee that a collective bargaining agreement has been breached.
Expanded Legal Definition of Grievance
Grievance Arbitration
The resolution of a dispute as to an alleged violation of a term of a collective bargaining agreement, by arbitration.
Expanded Legal Definition of Grievance Arbitration
Grossly Unfair
Manifestly unfair; clearly more than merely unfair; disproportionately unfair.
Expanded Legal Definition of Grossly Unfair
Gross Negligence
An action or an omission in reckless disregard of the consequences to the safety or property of another.
Expanded Legal Definition of Gross Negligence
Guarantee or Guaranty
A back-up debtor who steps in if the primary debtor defaults.
Expanded Legal Definition of Guarantee or Guaranty
Guarantor
A person who pledges payment or performance of a contract of another, but separately, as part of an independently contract with the obligee of the original contract.
Expanded Legal Definition of Guarantor
Guardian
An individual who, by legal appointment or by the effect of a written law, is given custody of both the property and the person of one who is unable to manage their own affairs, such as a child or mentally-disabled person.
Expanded Legal Definition of Guardian
Guardian Ad Litem
A guardian appointed to direct litigation on behalf and in the interests of a person otherwise incapable of managing their affairs.
Expanded Legal Definition of Guardian Ad Litem
Guardianship
The office or duty of one who legally has the care and management of the person, or the estate, or both, of a child.
Expanded Legal Definition of Guardianship
Guillotine
A machine designed to inflict capital punishment by dropping a blade onto the neck, thus quickly severing of the head from the body.
Expanded Legal Definition of Guillotine

Legal Dictionary

Legal terms by first letter:

Dictionary Homepage

Legal Citations & Abbreviations

Legal Citations by first letter:

Legal Citations Homepage

Law Resources by Topic

Bankruptcy Law

Civil Litigation & ADR

Consumer & Commercial Law

Contract Law

Criminal Law

Elder Law, Wills, Trusts, Estates

Employment & Labour Law

Family Law

Intellectual Property & Internet Law

International Law

Maritime Law

Real Estate & Tenancy Law

Tort & Personal Injury Law

Traffic Law

Duhaime's LawMag

Theo Fleury, True-Crime Confession

Canada's media go goo-goo gaa-gaa over child sexual abuse survivor and ex-professional hockey player Theo Fleury even though in his recent biography, he relishes in tales of unlawful conduct.

A'Twitter and A'Facebook: Field of Dreams for Law Enforcement

Privacy bleeding hearts be damned: long live the use of information technology to prevent crime and assist law enforcement.

Saint Lawyer: Lawyers Who Were Sainted

Merry Christ Mass to all and to lawyers too! Saint Ives may be the patron saint of lawyers but he is not the only lawyer to have been sainted by the Roman Catholic Pope.

Read earlier headlines »

Subscribe to stay in touch »

Law Museum & Legal History

Law Museum

Canadian Legal History

Law & Justice Quotations

Law Gallery

Law Hall of Fame

Law Hall of Shame

Timetable of World Legal History

Law Fun

LawFun

Celebrity Lawyers

Crazy Law Videos

Crazy Laws

Famous Wills

Law Poems: Poetic Justice

LawKids

LawMazing

L.I.E.S. Law School

Outrageous Lawsuits

Crime Prevention & Personal Safety

Dog Attack

Child Sexual Abuse

Cocaine

Jogging Safety

Date Rape

Child Abduction

... More Topics

Login

Register
Forgot Password?

Unless otherwise noted, this article was written by Lloyd Duhaime, Barrister, Solicitor, Attorney and Lawyer (and Notary Public!). It is not intended to be legal advice and you would be foolhardy to rely on it in respect to any specific situation you or an acquaintance may be facing. In addition, the law changes rapidly and sometimes with little notice so from time to time, an article may not be up to date. Therefore, this is merely legal information designed to educate the reader. If you have a real situation, this information will serve as a good springboard to get legal advice from a lawyer.

top