common law — n: a body of law that is based on custom and general principles and embodied in case law and that serves as precedent or is applied to situations not covered by statute the common law of torts: as a: the body of law that was first developed in… … Law dictionary
common–law — adj 1: of, relating to, or based on the common law common law immunity 2: relating to or based on a common law marriage her common law husband Merriam Webster’s Dictionary of Law. Merriam Webste … Law dictionary
common law marriage — in the USA, some states still accept that marriage can take place without statutory formalities. To operate, there must be a present agreement to marry, cohabitation in fact and representation by the parties to the community that they are married … Law dictionary
common-law action — A lawsuit governed by the general principles of law derived from court decisions, as opposed to the provisions of statutes. Actions ex contractu, arising out of a breach of contract, and actions ex delicto, based upon the commission of a tort… … Law dictionary
common-law marriage — A union of two people not formalized in the customary manner as prescribed by law but created by an agreement to marry followed by cohabitation. Dictionary from West s Encyclopedia of American Law. 2005. common law marriage … Law dictionary
common-law trust — see trust Merriam Webster’s Dictionary of Law. Merriam Webster. 1996. common law trust … Law dictionary
common-law courts — The early royal courts in England that administered the law common to all. Dictionary from West s Encyclopedia of American Law. 2005. common law courts The early royal courts in England that administ … Law dictionary
common–law copyright — n: a copyright in common law protecting unpublished works ◇ Works created after January 1, 1978, are protected by statutory rather than common law copyright while unpublished. Merriam Webster’s Dictionary of Law. Merriam Webster. 1996 … Law dictionary
common–law marriage — n: a marriage that is without a ceremony and is based on the parties agreement to consider themselves married and usu. also on their cohabitation for a period and their public recognition of the marriage compare concubinage ◇ Most jurisdictions… … Law dictionary
common law property state — >> common law state. Webster s New World Law Dictionary. Susan Ellis Wild. 2000 … Law dictionary
common law state — n. A state whose rules governing the ownership, division and inheritance of income and property acquired by a husband or wife during the course of their marriage holds that, subject to various qualifications, each spouse owns and has complete… … Law dictionary
