A B C D E F G H I J L M N O P Q R S T U V W

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talesman - A person called to act as a juror from among the bystanders in a court.

tangible personal property memorandum (TPPM) - A legal document that is referred to in a will and used to guide the distribution of tangible personal property.

temporary restraining order (TRO) - Prohibits a person from an action that is likely to cause irreparable harm. This differs from an injunction in that it may be granted immediately, without notice to the opposing party, and without a hearing. It is intended to last only until a hearing can be held.

testamentary capacity - The legal ability to make a will.

testamentary trust - A trust set up by a will.

testimony - Evidence given by a competent witness, under oath, as distinguished from evidence derived from writings and other sources.

third-party claim - An action by the defendant that brings a third party into a lawsuit.

title - Legal ownership of property, usually real property or automobiles.

tort - A civil wrong or breach of a duty to another person, as outlined by law. A very common tort is negligent operation of a motor vehicle that results in property damage and personal injury in an automobile accident.

transcript - The official record of proceedings in a trial or hearing.

transitory - Actions are "transitory" when they might have taken place anywhere, and are "local" when they could occur only in some particular place.

traverse - In pleading, to traverse signifies to deny. When a defendant denies any material allegation of fact in the plaintiff's declaration, he or she is said to traverse it.

trust - A legal device used to manage property-real or personal-established by one person (the donor, grantor or settlor) for the benefit of another (the beneficiary). A third person or the grantor manages the trust. This person is known as the trustee.

trust agreement or declaration - The legal document that sets up a living trust. Testamentary trusts are set up in a will.

trustee - The person or institution that manages the property put in trust.

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