courts and procedure

Aguilar-Spinelli test

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. Texas and Spinelli v....

a fortiori

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...

a priori

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...

a priori assumption

An a priori assumption is an assumption that is presumed to be true without any assessment of the facts or without further proof. A priori is a Latin term that refers to a theoretical deduction made on a subject without a precise and detailed...

a.k.a.

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

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...

ab intestato

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...

abandon

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.

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abandonment

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

Matrimonial Law

In matrimonial law, abandonment is a form of marital misconduct which occurs...

abate

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]

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