civil law. A name given generally, to all species of frauds committed in making contracts. 2. This word is said to be derived from the Latin stellio, a kind of lizard remarkable for its cunning and the change of its color, because those guilty of frauds used every art and cunning to conceal them. But more particularly it was the crime of a person who fraudulently assigned, … [Read more...]

Lat. In the civil law. A general name for any kind of fraud not falling under any specific class. But the term is chiefly applied to fraud practiced in the sale or pledging of property; as, selling the same property to two different persons, selling another's property as one's own, placing a second mortgage on property without disclosing the existence of the first, etc. … [Read more...]

A person who transcribes testimony or proceedings. They are specialized employees skilled in using a dictation machine, which allows many words to be summarized and typed quickly. … [Read more...]

A familial relationship that is via marriage but not a blood relation, e.g. a step-son. … [Read more...]

A child born to a spouse prior to the marriage to the other spouse who has not legally adopted the child. If the child is legally adopted by the non-biological parent, that child is no longer a stepchild and is treated the same as a biological child. If a will leaves property to my children state law (some following the Uniform Probate Code) will determine whether a stepchild … [Read more...]