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Garnishment
The seizing of a person's property, credit or salary, on the basis of a law
which allows it, and for the purposes of paying off a debt. The person who
possesses the assets of the debtor and is the subject of the seizure is called a
"garnishee". This is frequently used in the enforcement of child support where
delinquent debtors will be subjected to salary garnishment. A percentages of
their wages is subtracted directly off their pay-check and directed to the
person in need of support (the employer being the garnishee).
Gavel
A wooden mallet used by a judge to bring proceedings to a start or to an end
or to command attention in his or her court.
General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT)
Multilateral international treaty first created in 1947 and frequently
amended (most recently in 1994) to which 125 countries subscribe. GATT provides
for fair trade rules and the gradual reduction of tariffs, duties and other
trade barriers. The 1994 amendment created a World Trade Organization, which
oversees the implementation of the GATT.
General counsel
The senior
lawyer of a
corporation.
This is normally a full-time employee of the
corporation
although some
corporations contract this position out to a
lawyer with a
private firm.
Gift over
A device used in wills and trusts to provide for the gift of property to a
second recipient if a certain event occurs, such as the death of the first
recipient. For example, I give you my car but on your death you must give it to
your child; that is a gift over to the benefit of your child.
Goodwill
An intangible business asset which includes a cultivated reputation and
consequential attraction and confidence of repeat customers and connections.
Grand Jury
An American criminal justice procedure whereby, in each court district, a
group of 16-23 citizens hold an inquiry on criminal complaints brought by the
prosecutor and decide if a trial is warranted, in which case an indictment is
issued. If a Grand Jury rejects a proposed indictment it is known as a "no
bill"; if they accept to endorse a proposed indictment it is known as a "true
bill".
Gross negligence
Any action or an omission in reckless disregard of the consequences to the
safety or property of another. Sometimes referred to as "very great
negligence"
and it is more then just neglect of ordinary care towards others or just
inadvertence. Also known as the Latin term
culpa lata.
Guarantor
A person who pledges collateral for the contract of another, but separately,
as part of an independently contract with the obligee of the original contract.
Compare with "surety."
Guardian
An individual who, by legal appointment or by the effect of a written law,
is given custodyof
both the property and the person of one who is unable to manage their own
affairs, such as a child or mentally-disabled person.
Guardian ad litem
A guardian appointed to assist an infant or other mentally incapable
defendant or plaintiff, or any such incapacitated person that may be a party in
a legal action.
Guillotine
A device developed in France to inflict the death penalty through
decapitation
by the dropping of a weighted and sharp metal blade onto the restrained neck of
a convict. |
