A will is a legal document that states a testator’s wishes and instructions for managing and distributing their estate after death. In contrast, intestate succession is passing the property of the decedent according to the State’s intestacy...
legal education and practice
will contract
Though transfers by will are normally donative, it is possible to use a will to form an obligatory, legally enforceable contract. A will contract is created when a promise is made and supported by consideration to leave property by will to...
will execution ceremony
The will execution ceremony is the procedure by which a testator makes known how they want their property to be handled after their death through their will. The execution ceremony has formal requirements such as the signature, attestation...
willful
Willful refers to acts which are intentional, conscious, voluntary, and designed to achieve a particular result. The specific meaning of the term “willful” depends on the context in which it is used.
In the context of criminal law, the...wills: writing requirement
The writing requirement for wills demands that a will be in writing, or in physical form, in order to be valid. The writing requirement is typically met as long as the will is written in some more or less permanent medium such as typed or...
wiretapping
Wiretapping is the act of recording communications between parties, often without their consent. While wiretaps can be a powerful tool for authorities conducting criminal investigations, they are also legally at odds with the right to privacy...
with prejudice
When a court dismisses an action, they can either do so “with prejudice” or “without prejudice.” Dismissal with prejudice means that the plaintiff cannot refile the same claim again in that court.
The reason that dismissal...
without recourse
Without recourse is a phrase meaning that one party has no legal claim against another party. It is often used in two contexts:
In litigation, someone without recourse against another party cannot sue that party, or at least cannot...witness
In legal proceedings, witnesses can serve as sources of evidence, offering firsthand accounts that can corroborate or refute claims made by parties involved. Their testimony can influence the outcome of a case by providing insights that might...
witness stand
The witness stand is the location in a courtroom where a witness sits or stands while giving testimony. This is usually a platform to the left and slightly below the judge's seat. A witness called to testify is said to "take the stand."...