Legal Terms

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Impeach.

Evidence which tends to detract from the credibility of the witness.

Implied Warranty.

In certain cases the law says that one has given a warranty to another even though the warranty is not in writing. An example would be in sales: A seller implies that his product is fit for the purpose it purports to serve.

Imputed.

Occurs when actions of one party, usually the agent, are deemed to be actions of the other party, usually the principal.

Incompetent.

A person who cannot manage his or her own affairs. One who is legally declared insane would be an example of an incompetent. Children under a certain age are also considered incompetents for some purposes.

Injunction.

A court order intended to prevent a person from doing something which might later be termed to be wrongful or illegal.

Insolvent.

Where a person's or business's liabilities exceed their assets.

Inter Vivos Transfer.

Transfer of all or a portion of the assets of a person's estate while that person is still alive. Contrast with Testamentary Transfer.

Inter Vivos Trust.

A trust that is created and takes effect during the lifetime of the grantor. Contrast with Testamentary Trust.

Interrogatories.

A procedure for gaining evidence which involves one party submitting questions to the other party in order to gather facts and information to prepare for a trial.

Intervening Cause.

A possible defense against negligence. Negligence may be avoided or reduced if it can be shown that an intervening cause broke the uninterrupted chain of events required to establish a proximate cause. Contrast with Proximate Cause.

Intestate.

Dying without a will thus permitting the probate court to appoint an administrator to settle the estate.

Invitee.

One who has been either expressly or implicitly invited onto the premises of another. The most common example would be customers invited to a store to purchase goods or services.