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R

Definitions for legal terms and law concepts beginning with R
Ransom
Money paid to have a kidnapped person released. - (see definition)
Rape
Sex with a woman, other than the perpetrator's wife, without her consent. - (see definition)
Real Estate
Same as real property; land and rights attached to land. - (see definition)
Real Property
A property interest in land. - (see definition)
Reasonable Doubt
A threshold of proof in criminal cases in most modern criminal law systems which requires the trier of fact to be sure, not certain, of the accused guilt, before convicting. - (see definition)
Rebuttable presumption
Usually, every element of a case must be proven to a judge or a jury. - (see definition)
Reconciliation
The act of separated spouses returning to family cohabitation. - (see definition)
Redact
Removing text or images from an original document. - (see definition)
Redemption
Buying back. When a vendor later buys the property back. - (see definition)
Refugee
A person who is outside his state of origin or of residence, cannot return without exposure to human-rights related persecution. - (see definition)
Relator
An informer; a person who has supplied the facts required for a criminal prosecution or a civil suit. - (see definition)
Remainder
A right to future enjoyment or ownership of real property. - (see definition)
Remanet
An action that has been put over, deferred to a later time. - (see definition)
REMO
Abbreviation for reciprocal enforcement of maintenance orders and the name of the international system of recognition, registration and enforcement of child and spousal support orders between countries which have agreed, between themselves, to enforce each other’s maintenance orders. - (see definition)
Rent
This is the consideration paid by a tenant to a landlord in exchange for the exclusive use and enjoyment of land, a building or a part of a building. - (see definition)
Replevin
A legal action taken to reclaim goods which have been distrained. - (see definition)
Republic
A form of government where the law-makers and administrators are chosen by the people and not king or queen, or chosen thereby. - (see definition)
Rescind
To abrogate or cancel a contract putting the parties in the same position they would have been in had there been no contract. - (see definition)
Rescue
Taking and setting at liberty, against the law, either goods or imprisoned persons. - (see definition)
Res gestae
Latin for things done. A peculiar rule, used mostly in criminal cases, which allows hearsay if the statement is made during the excitement of the litigated event. - (see definition)
Res ipsa loquitur
Latin for the thing speaks for itself. Generally, in tort, the mere fact of an accident is not proof of negligence. But in some cases, negligence is presumed on the defendant since the object causing injury was in his or her control. This is the res ipsa loquitur doctrine. - (see definition)
Res judicata
Latin: A matter which has already been conclusively decided by a court. - (see definition)
Resolution
The formal decision of an organization. A motion which has obtained the necessary majority vote in favor. - (see definition)
Respondeat superior
Let the principal answer. - (see definition)
Respondent
The party that responds to a claim filed in court against them by a plaintiff. - (see definition)
Restitutio In Integrum
Latin for restitution to the original position. - (see definition)
Restitution
Under ancient English common law, when a party enforced a court judgement and then that judgement was overturned on appeal, the appellant could ask the appeal court for restitution, or financial compensation placing that appellant in the same position as if the original legal decision had not been enforced. - (see definition)
Restrictive Covenant
A contract to be limited in some regards as to future conduct. - (see definition)
Resulting trust
A trust that is presumed by the court from certain situations. - (see definition)
Retainer
A contract between a lawyer and his (or her) client, wherein the lawyer agrees to represent and provide legal advice to the client, in exchange for money. - (see definition)
Reversion
A future interest left in a transferror or his (or her) heirs. A reservation in a real property conveyance that the property reverts back to the original owner upon the occurence of a certain event. - (see definition)
Rider
A written amendment as to the coverage of an existing life or health insurance policy. - (see definition)
Right of first refusal
A right given to a person to be the first person allowed to purchase a certain object if it is ever offered for sale. - (see definition)
Riot
Three or more persons who assemble and advance a purpose together, with the intent to use force if necessary, and raising alarm of a reasonable person(s). - (see definition)
Riparian rights
Special rights of people who own land that runs into a river bank (a riparian owner is a person who owns land that runs into a river). - (see definition)
Robbery
Theft under threat or use of force. - (see definition)
Rota Court
Medieval Papal and Roman Catholic court. - (see definition)
Rout
A common law and public order criminal offence which has gone beyond an unlawful assembly in that some action has been taken towards either the crime intended or the disturbance of the peace. - (see definition)
Rule Against Perpetuities
A common law rule that prevents suspending the transfer of property for more than 21 years or a lifetime plus 21 years. - (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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