wex definitions

ademption

Ademption refers to the destruction or extinction of a testamentary gift because the bequeathed assets no longer belong to the testator at the time of their death. This occurs when the property that was the subject of a specific bequest is...

ademption by extinction

Ademption by extinction refers to when an intended gift of property through a will fails to transfer those property rights because the property as described in the will no longer belongs to the testator when the will takes effect.

...

ademption by satisfaction

Ademption by satisfaction occurs when a party gives someone a gift initially intended to be included in their will while that party is still alive. In cases of direct familial relationships, ademption by satisfaction is presumed as...

adequate and independent state grounds

Adequate and independent state grounds refers to the standard used by the Supreme Court to determine if it will hear a case from a state court. The Supreme Court will hear a case from a state court only if the state court judgment is...

adequate remedy

An adequate remedy is one that affords complete relief with reference to the particular matter in controversy, and which is appropriate given the circumstances of the case. An adequate remedy has also been described as a remedy that is...

adhesion contract

An adhesion contract, also known as a contract of adhesion, is a contract where the parties are of such disproportionate bargaining power that the party of weaker bargaining power could not have negotiated for variations in the terms of the...

adjourn

Adjourn is the final closing of a meeting, such as a convention, or other official gathering.

In a legal sense, to adjourn means to suspend court proceedings to another time or place, or to end them. It is different from...

adjudicate

To adjudicate means to make a formal judgment or decision regarding a problem or disputed matter.

See also: Adjudication.

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

adjudication

Adjudication refers to the legal process of resolving a dispute or deciding a case. When a claim is brought, courts identify the rights of the parties at that particular moment by analyzing what were, in law, the rights and wrongs of their actions when...

adjudicative fact

An adjudicative fact is a fact that is either legally operative or even so important as to be controlling on some question of law. Adjudicative facts are those which concern the parties to some dispute and are helpful in determining the...

Pages