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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. - (see definition)
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. - (see definition)
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. - (see definition)
General Counsel
The senior lawyer of a corporation. - (see definition)
General Deterrence
A sentencing objective which aims to discourage persons other than the offender, from committing a similar offence. - (see definition)
Genocide
Systematic killing of persons because of their ethnicity. - (see definition)
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. - (see definition)
Gift
A transfer of property with nothing given in return. - (see definition)
Gift over
A device used in wills and trusts to provide for the gift of property to a second recipient if a certain event occurs, such as the death of the first recipient. - (see definition)
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. - (see definition)
Goodwill
An intangible business asset which includes a cultivated reputation and consequential attraction and confidence of repeat customers and connections. - (see definition)
Government
Organization of law-making and law enforcement; the form and institutions by which law and order are developed and maintained in a society. - (see definition)
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. - (see definition)
Grossly Unfair
Manifestly unfair; clearly more than merely unfair; disproportionately unfair. - (see definition)
Gross Negligence
An action or an omission in reckless disregard of the consequences to the safety or property of another. - (see definition)
Guarantee or guaranty
A back-up debtor who steps in if the primary debtor defaults. - (see definition)
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. - (see definition)
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. - (see definition)
Guardian ad litem
A guardian appointed to direct litigation on behalf and in the interests of a person otherwise incapable of managing their affairs. - (see definition)
Guillotine
A machine designed to inflict capital punishment by dropping a blade onto the neck, thus quickly severing of the head from the body. - (see definition)

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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.

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