Deck 1 (A)

Question 1

Abandonment

Answer 1

giving up a legal right

Question 2

Abatement

Answer 2

stopping a nuisance; reducing the payments to creditors in proportion

Question 3

Abduction

Answer 3

taking someone away by force

Question 4

Ab initio

Answer 4

from the start of something

Question 5

Abovementioned

Answer 5

describing something which has been referred to

before in the document

Question 6

Abscond

Answer 6

when a person fails to present themselves before the
court when required, such as when they have been
released on bail and not returned to court

Question 7

Absolute

Answer 7

complete and unconditional

Question 8

Absolute discharge

Answer 8

someone who has been convicted of an offence
being released without any penalty. (They may still
have to pay compensation though.)

Question 9

Absolute owner

Answer 9

the only owner of property such as equipment,

buildings, land or vehicles.

Question 10

Absolute privilege

Answer 10

a defence which can be used in a case of
defamation if the statement from which the
defamation arose was:
• made in Parliament;
• in fair and accurate news reporting of court
proceedings; or
• made during court proceedings.

Question 11

Abstract of title

Answer 11

a document, drawn up by the seller, summarising the

title deeds to a property (such as a house).

Question 12

Abuse of process

Answer 12

when criminal proceedings are brought against a
person without there being any good reason and with
malice.

Question 13

Abuttals

Answer 13

the parts of the boundaries of a piece of land which

touch pieces of land alongside.

Question 14

Acceptance

Answer 14

when an offer is accepted unconditionally and a

legally binding agreement is created.

Question 15

Acceptance of service

Answer 15

when a solicitor accepts a writ on behalf of a client.

Question 16

Acceptor

Answer 16

the organisation (such as a bank) which will pay the
cheque or bill of exchange it has accepted.

Question 17

Accessory

Answer 17

someone who encourages or helps another person

to commit a crime.

Question 18

Accomplice

Answer 18

someone who helps another person to commit a

crime.

Question 19

Accordingly

Answer 19

a word used in legal documents which means

therefore or so.

Question 20

Accounts

Answer 20

the record of an organisation’s income, spending and

financial situation.

Question 21

Accumulation

Answer 21

reinvesting income generated by a fund back into the

fund.

Question 22

Accused

Answer 22

the person charged with a criminal offence.

Question 23

Acknowledgement

Answer 23

admitting that someone has a claim or admitting that

a debt exists.

Question 24

Acknowledgement of

Service

Answer 24

when a defendant agrees that a writ or originating
summons (‘claim form’ since April 1999) has been
received. The defendant fills in, signs and sends
back the acknowledgement of service to confirm in
writing that the documents were received.

Question 25

Acquit

Answer 25

when a court lets a person go without any penalty. If
a court decides that a person is not guilty of a crime,
or the case has not been proved, it will acquit the
person.

Question 26

Acquittal

Answer 26

the court’s decision that a person is innocent of the

crime they were charged with.

Question 27

Action

Answer 27

using the law to make a claim.

Question 28

Active trust

Answer 28

a trust where the trustees have other responsibilities
rather than to just let the beneficiaries have the
trust’s assets when they ask for them.

Question 29

Act of bankruptcy

Answer 29

an act which, if carried out by a person with debts,
could have led to bankruptcy proceedings against
that person.

Question 30

Act of God

Answer 30

an extreme naturally occurring event (such as an
earthquake, avalanche or flood) that could not have
been anticipated.

Question 31

Actual bodily harm

Answer 31

hurting another person but less severely than would

amount to grievous bodily harm.

Question 32

Actual loss

Answer 32

an insurance term which means that the insured item

no longer exists.