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Glossary

revoke To cancel or nullify a legal document.	record A written account of all the acts, proceedings and testimony in a lawsuit.

redirect examination Follows cross-examination and is exercised by the party who called first and questioned the witness.	reliance When an appellate court sends a case back to a lower court for further proceedings.

reasonable doubt The introduction of contrary evidence; the showing that a statement of witnesses as to what occurred is not true; the stage of a trial at which such evidence may be introduced.	rebuttal The introduction of contrary evidence; the showing that statements of witnesses as to what occurred is not true; the stage of a trial at which such evidence may be introduced.

remand When an appellate court sends a case back to a lower court for further proceedings.	removal, order of An order by a court directing the transfer of a case to another court.

reply A pleading in response to an answer.	repossession To take back as in a seizure or foreclosure to satisfy the obligation to the seller, bank or finance company after the debtor defaults on his or her payments.

rest A party is said to "rest" or "rest its case" when it has presented all the evidence it intends to offer.	reverse When an appellate court sets aside the decision of a lower court because of an error. A reversal is often accompanied by a remand.

revocable trust A trust that the grantor may change or revoke.	rule of court An order made by a court having jurisdiction. Rules of court are either general or special: the former are the regulations by which the practice of the court is governed; the latter are special orders made in particular cases.

rule to show cause A court order obtained on motion by either party to demonstrate why the particular relief sought should not be granted. Generally, used in connection with contempt proceedings.	raised check A check on which the amount has been raised by the payee or the bearer.

ratified An approval of a contract made by a minor after reaching maturity.	real defense A defense against payment of commercial paper that claims the instrument was void from the beginnning.

real property The ground and everything permanently attached to it. including land, buildings trees and shrubs; the air space above the land, and ground below are also included.	rejection The express or implied refusal by an offeree to accept an offer.

remote party Someone with the right to make legitimate sales as a representatives of the owner of the goods, although they themselves are not titleholders.	replevin An action to recover possession of specific goods wrongfully taken or detained by another.

restraining order A court order prohibiting the performance of a certain act. In some states, a restraining order is temporary.	restraint of trade A limitation on the full exercise of doing busines with others.

restrictive indorsement An indorsement with a signature to which words have been added restricting further indorsement of the instrument.	revocation The calling back of an offer by the offeror before an offer has been accepted or rejected.