An affirmative defense is a defense in which the defendant introduces evidence, which, if found to be credible, will negate criminal liability or civil liability, even if it is proven that the defendant committed the alleged acts. The party...
THE LEGAL PROCESS
affix
Affix means to attach something. Some common uses of the term “affix” in a legal sense include:
In the context of real estate, the term “affix” means to attach something to real estate in a permanent way. For example, planting trees...affray
Affray is a term used to define a common law offense, which involves fighting between people in a public place that disturbs the peace.
In Massachusetts, an affray “is an offense against the public, an aggravated...
after-discovered evidence
After-discovered evidence, or newly discovered evidence, is evidence which existed at the time of the original trial but was only discovered after the conclusion of the trial. After-discovered evidence is an issue predominantly in criminal...
agency
Agency law is the common law doctrine controlling relationships between agents and principals. A principal-agent relationship is created when the agent is given authority to act for the principal. An agreement made by an agent is binding on...
agent
An agent is a person authorized to act on behalf of another person. The party an agent is authorized to act for is known as the principal. A principal-agent relationship can either be intentionally created or created by implication through...
agent for acceptance of service
See: agent for service of process
[Last updated in March of 2022 by the Wex Definitions Team]
agent for service of process
An agent for service of process is the person designated by a business entity, such as a corporation or limited liability company (LLC), to receive legal documents and lawsuits on behalf of the business entity within the state in which the...
aggravate
Aggravate means to increase the gravity or seriousness of a crime.
Cases such as this one from Texas, explain that to aggravate means “to make worse.”
See also: Magwood v. Patterson, 130 S.Ct. 2788 (2010...
aggravated
An aggravated crime or tort is one that is committed under circumstances that allow for increased punishments over what the crime/tort would usually receive. Circumstances necessary to raise a standard crime to the aggravated variant of that...