courts and procedure

The Aguilar-Spinelli test is a legal standard used in the United States to evaluate the validity of a search warrant based on information provided by an informant. It stems from two U.S. Supreme Court cases: Aguilar v.

A fortiori refers to an argument based on an even stronger previous argument. In Latin, the term literally means ‘from [the] stronger.’ 

The argument implies that if the first is true, the second is even more likely to be true.

A priori refers to an assertion based on prior knowledge or intuition. In Latin, the term literally means “from what is earlier.” An a priori determination is formed before investigation. For example, assuming that the road will be wet when it stops raining a minute before would be a priori reasoning.   

A priori is the opposite of a posteriori, or after-the-fact knowledge.

• Latin terms

An a priori assumption is an assumption that is presumed to be true without any assessment of the facts or without further proof.

• Latin terms

A.K.A. is the abbreviation of “also known as.” It is often used to specify a party’s aliases or nicknames in a case.

[Last reviewed in November of 2024 by the Wex Definitions Team]

Ab initio is a Latin term that means "from the beginning” or “from inception.” Ab initio is used to indicate that some fact existed from the start of a relevant time period. It is often used as part of the phrase “void ab initio,” meaning something – such as a marriage – was void from the beginning.

Ab intestato is a Latin term meaning "by intestacy." The term refers to laws governing the succession of property after the previous owner of the property dies without a valid will.

[Last reviewed in June of 2022 by the Wex Definitions Team]

• Latin terms

Abandon refers to the act of abandonment. A party can “abandon” in multiple fields of law and abandoning generally, though not always, involves voluntarily giving up a right.

See abandonment for more information. 

[Last reviewed in June of 2022 by the Wex Definitions Team]

Abandonment is a term that applies to a variety of areas of law. These areas include family law, civil procedure, and property. 

To abate means to eliminate or to nullify. 

This verb usually arises in the context of abatement.

[Last reviewed in October of 2024 by the Wex Definitions Team]