The debt-to-income (DTI) ratio measures the amount of income a person or organization generates in order to service a debt. As explained by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, your debt-to-income ratio is all your monthly debt payments divided by your gross monthly income.
The deceased–more commonly referred to as the decedent in a legal context–is a person who has died. This is the central person in the law of estates and trusts. All of the deceased’s assets become a part of their estate.
Deception is the act of deliberately causing somebody to accept something as true that is not true. It is an action that hides the truth.
To decide is to determine an issue or issues; to reach a decision on a legal issue or issues.
[Last reviewed in July of 2021 by the Wex Definitions Team]
Declaration of mailing is a document that must be filed to show that court required materials have been mailed to the proper recipient. This document is required for many documents such as serving someone by mail. This document ensures that the sender actually took the steps necessary to inform another party of a lawsuit or other important information, and the document allows the sender to have proof even if the other party denies receiving the document.
A decree of distribution is a conclusive ruling by a probate court on all the rights of individual beneficiaries to an estate. After the decree of distribution is entered, the assets of the estate are distributed, and any challenges to the will after this decree are extremely difficult to pursue.
A dedication is the conveyance of private land, either in fee simple or as an easement, for public use.
Dedimus potestatem (which translates to “we have given the power”) is an outdated term that refers to some special authority granted to an individual by a court. In American law, the term means authority given to someone to depose a witness. However, in English law, the term can mean other powers as well like a client granting decision making authority to their attorney.
Deductible for legal purposes means some kind of expense that reduces the amount someone owes.
Regarding insurance, a deductible is an amount in an insurance claim that the provider deducts from a claim that must be paid by the insurance holder, or a deductible is the amount an individual must pay before the insurance begins paying out for claims. For example, Johnny wrecks his car causing $10,000 in damage. If Johnny has a $1,000 deductible, the insurance company would only pay $9,000.
