Legal terms definitions Flashcards
Allotted share capital
So much of the nominal or authorised share capital of a company that has been allotted to shareholders but not yet issued
Allotment
Acceptance by a company of an offer to subscribe for its shares
Amalgamation
An arrangement that involves the bringing together of two or more undertakings of separate companies (“the participating companies”) within a single company (“the receiving company”)
Animus manendi
The intention that an individual must have to acquire a domicile of choice in a territory
Animus non revertendi
The intention that an individual must have to abandon a domicile of choice in a territory
Annuity
The periodic payment received from the surrender of a lump sum
Annulment
An order of court which brings a voidable marriage to an end or declares a void marriage never to have existed
Anticipatory breach
A refusal by one party to perform their duties under a contract before the time fixed for performance
Apparent authority
The authority of a person to act on behalf of a principal in a case where the principal represents a third party that that person is their agent
Appropriate
To identify the property of a deceased estate that may be passed to a legatee
Aquis
The body of law of the EU
Articles of association
One of the documents that forms the constitution of a company which is a contract between the company and its member and which contains the detailed written rules governing the running of a company
Assent
A formal statement by the personal representative of a deceased estate that they do not require an item of property for the purposes of the administration and that it can pass to a legatee
Assign
To transfer a lease or intangible property
Authorised share capital
Nominal share capital
Bailment
The act of delivering possession of goods to another for an agreed use
Balance of probabilities
The onus on proof in civil proceedings
Bare trust
A trust that does not impose active duties on the trustees; a nomineeship
Beneficial ownership
Equitable ownership
Beneficiary
The person who in equity benefits from the property settled in trust
Bicameral
A parliament comprised of two legislative chambers
Binding precedent
A decision of a court that must be followed by another court
Body corporate
An entity created by the law that has no real or tangible existence but which the law recognises as having legal personality
Bona vacantia
Property that otherwise has no owner and so passes into the ownership of the crown
Bond
A loan note
Bonus issue
Existing shareholders are given the right to subscribe for no payment for additional shares
Call
A demand by a company upon its shareholders to pay an amount in respect of its uncalled share capital
Call option
A contract of option that binds the grantor to sell an underlying asset and gives the grantee the right to require the grantor to sell the asset
Capital maintenance
The company law rule that forbids a company from paying its share capital back to its shareholders unless authorised to do so
Capital redemption reserve
The amount equal to the nominal value of shares bought back by a company
Certainty of intention
The words used to settle a trust must be imperative and show that the settlor intended to settle a trust
Certainty of objects
The beneficiaries of a trust must be ascertainable
Certainty of subject matter
The property to become trust property must be identified precisely and the interests of the beneficiaries in that property must be ascertainable
Chattel
A chose in possession - a thing that a person can possess in physical form; a tangible moveable asset
Chattels real
Leasehold land