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Glossary

bequests Gifts made in a will.	Bail - Security given for the release of a criminal defendant or witness from legal custody (usually in the form of money) to secure his or her appearance on the day and time appointed (also called bail bond).

bailiff A court attendant whose duties are to keep order in the courtroom and to have custody of the jury.	bankruptcy Refers to statutes and judicial proceedings involving persons or businesses that cannot pay their debts and seek the assistance of the court in getting a fresh start. Under the protection of the bankruptcy court, debtors may discharge their debts, perhaps by paying a portion of each debt.

bench trial A trial heard by a judge without a jury.	bench warrant Order issued by a judge for the arrest of an individual.

beneficiary Someone named to receive property or benefits in a will. In a trust, a person who is to receive benefits from the trust.	bequeath To give a gift to someone through a will.

binding instruction An instruction in which a jury is told that if it finds certain conditions to be true, it must decide in favor of the plaintiff, or defendant, as the case might be.	breach of contract A legally inexcusable failure to perform a contractual obligation.

brief A written statement prepared by each side in a lawsuit to explain to the court its view of the facts in a case and the applicable law.	burden of proof The standard by which a case is decided. In criminal cases, the prosecutor must prove his/her case "beyond a reasonable doubt." In civil cases, the plaintiff must prove his/her case by a "preponderance of evidence," or, in some cases, by "clear and convincing" evidence.

bad check A check against a bank in which the drawer has insufficient funds on deposit to cover the check or no funds at all.	bailment A transactionin which the owner of tangible personal property transfers (not as a gift) to another party while still retaining ownership.

bailment for the sole benefit of the bailee A bailment relationship in which only the bailee receives any benefit from the relationship.	bailment for the sole benefit of the bailor A bailment that exist when the bailor entrust an article to the bailee for storage or safekeeping without charge, as a favor.

Bailee The party in a bailment who receives the goods.	bailee's lien The right of the bailee in a bailment for work and services to hold, and if necessary, to sell the property if the bailor does not pay for the services or work done.

bargain and sale deed A deed that simply grants the property to another. No particular warranties are given, but state statues assume that a certain implied warranties are present.	barren promise A promise to pay an existing debt, to obey law, or a similar promise of something already owned.

bill of lading A document prepared by the carrier of the shipper for goods to be shipped by land or water; if shipped by air, an air bill is prepared.	bill of sale A written statement that the seller is passing ownership to the buyer.

blank indorsment An indorsement in which the name of the payee is written by the payee on the back of a negotiable instrument.	boycott When people refuse to purchase goods made made a particular businesses. In some cases,citizens of a particular country refuse to purchase goods made by businesses located in other countries, regardless of whether of their action is supported by the government.

bribery The act of offering,giving, receiving, or soliciting somthing of value to influence official action of the discharge of a public duty.