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D.A. is the abbreviation for district attorney. See the district attorney definition for more information.

[Last reviewed in June of 2021 by the Wex Definitions Team]

De facto action is an action taken without strict legal authority to do so, but recognized as legally valid nonetheless. The action is considered something that acquires validity based on the fact of its existence and tradition.  

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

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Deadhand control refers to individuals controlling how their property will be used after their death through different mechanisms. Historically, deadhand control has been criticized and limited as wealthy individuals attempted to make their wealth carry on for many generations.

Death benefit refers to the assets a designated person receives when the holder of a life-insurance policy or pension account passes. The beneficiary may receive the assets as a lump-sum or it may be paid out incrementally according to the wishes of the original holder.

Death row is defined as the section of a prison that holds prisoners who have been sentenced to death and are awaiting execution.

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• criminal law

“Death taxes” is a pejorative term used to refer to taxes imposed on an individual’s property after their death. There are two specific kinds of “death taxes:” estate taxes and inheritance taxes.

Debentures refer essentially to unsecured bonds within the United States. Corporations and governments use debentures as long term funding options, usually for major expansions and projects in the case of corporations. Debentures have set interest rates, payback periods, and regular interest payments as most other bonds do.

Debt is a financial liability or obligation owed by one person, the debtor, to another, the creditor. 

Under the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1692(a), a debt collector is defined as any business with the principal purpose of collecting debts for third parties via an instrumentality of interstate commerce or the U.S. mails.

A debt relief agency is any person, company, or institution that provides advice, information, counsel, and/or other assistive services to a person who is contemplating, or filing, for bankruptcy in return for payment. Under the U.S.