A legal separation is an arrangement in which a married couple lives apart but remains legally married. It can be either mutually agreed upon or ordered by judicial decree. Depending on the form of separation and the laws in the jurisdiction...
family law
legatee
The literal meaning of a legatee is one who receives a legacy. Specifically, in the law of wills and property, a legatee is an individual who receives a portion of a testator’s estate, or rather the individual receives a legacy, which is...
legitimate
Legitimate has several legal meanings. When it is used as an adjective, it means lawful, or right. It can also be an antiquated term for an individual of lawful parentage or lawful issue, meaning that they weren’t born out of wedlock. In...
living will
A living will is a type of advance directive that lists a person's wishes about medical treatment in the event that the person cannot give informed consent or refusal. A living will commonly includes specific directives on which life-...
loss of consortium
Loss of consortium refers to the loss or impairment of the intangible benefits of a relationship. When it is found that loss of consortium is caused by a tortfeasor, the victims’ loved ones may be able to recover reasonable damages arising...
marital deduction
Marital deduction refers to exceptions to gift and estate taxes for transfers made to spouses. Almost all property qualifies for this deduction and there is no limit. The deduction does not avoid taxes completely, but rather, the spouse...
marital misconduct
Marital misconduct refers to conduct that is alleged to have caused the erosion of a marriage. In some states the spouse found guilty of marital misconduct will be adversely affected during property division, distribution of spousal support...
marital privilege
Marital privilege, also known as spousal privilege, is recognized by the law of evidence and the Supreme Court to protect private spousal communications and prevent any testimony against a spouse from being used in judicial proceedings....
marital property
In a divorce case, the court divides all property owned by spouses into two categories according to its state law: 1) marital property owned between spouses, and 2) separate property of each spouse.
Marital property...
marital settlement agreement
Marital settlement agreements, also known as divorce settlement agreements, marital termination agreements, separation agreements, or stipulations of settlements, are written contracts between divorcing spouses of their responsibilities and...