All Legal Terms by letter N

Narcotic :- Drug that dulls the senses or that causes sleepiness.


National debt :- Money borrowed by a government, or owed to the people.


Naturalization :- Naturalization is the statutory process by which a foreign person may qualify to become a citizen of the country. Even though citizenship is earned in the naturalization process, there may still be some rights reserved for citizens that have been naturally born in the country. For example, the Constitution of the United States disqualifies naturalized citizens from being President


Negative Pregnant :- In pleading practice, this is an averment that denies but admits some of the allegations. A negative statement that implies an affirmative. Absurdly, "I didn't do it, but I wasn't the only one!" .


Negligence :- The failure to do something, or doing something wrongly, such that a reasonable person would have acted differently, such that a person is injured. Negligence cases are civil matters where there is a breach of a duty owed to another, resulting in injury. For a more complete summary on this term please see the article at Legal Term Topics and Issues - Negligence.


Negotiable Instrument :- Any instrument, containing a contract to pay money, or any other negotiable security representing money, which is in a form capable of being sued on by the holder, in his own name and, and that is transferable by custom of trade, is known as a negotiable instrument


Necessaries Statute :- This codifies the old common law doctrine of necessaries where it was held generally that a husband, or a father, was liable to pay for goods sold to his wife or children that are necessary to sustain their lives. Modernly, most all states have adopted a Necessaries Statute that obligates spouses and parents to pay for necessary medical care rendered to a spouse or child.


Net Assets :- Net Assets are also called owner's equity and this consists of the value of all assets, minus the amount of all liabilities.


Net Estate :- Estate property left after payment of debts and funeral expenses, and any other appropriate charges


Net Income :- Net Income is the positive overall performance of a company, expressed in terms of dollars. It is gross income minus expenses, basically.


Net Lease :- A Net Lease is one that requires the tenant to bear many of the costs associated with the rented property, such as real estate taxes, maintenance, utilities and insurance. Net leases are generally involved as a tax deferring device when used in 1031 property exchanges.


Net Loss :- Net Loss is the negative overall performance of a company, expressed in terms of dollars. This is the opposite of net income

Next Friend :- : One appointed by a court to represent a child or minor in prosecution of a cause of action. Usually governed by court rule.


No Contest :- In criminal law, a pleading by a defendant that does not admit the charge but acknowledges that the charge would likely be proven. The charges are therefore not contested.


Nolle Prosequi :- Where the prosecutor formally declares that he or she will no longer prosecute a particular case.


Nolo Contendre :- Where the defendant literally does not contest the charges.


Nominal Damages :- small sum awarded to plaintiff in a civil case but may be support for a larger punitive damage award.


Non-Competition Clause :- A non-competition clause in a contract indicates that the parties, or more likely one of the parties, have agreed not to compete with the business of the contract for a set period of time after the contract expires or is terminated. To be enforceable, most judges will require that the time limit be reasonable and that any geographic non-competition provision be also reasonable in relation to the business of the contract. Non-competition clauses are common in the field of employment law


Non Dischargable Debt :- A debt that may not be discharged, even in bankruptcy, such a student loan.



Non Disclosure Agreement :- An agreement to keep a matter secret. This is very common in settlements in civil matters.
Computer Books

Non-Profit Corporation :- A non-profit corporation is a corporation that is formed without an intent to make a profit for its investors. Instead, the purpose of the non-profit is to make income for a religious, charitable, educational, literary, or a scientific purpose. Upon application, the qualifying entity may be granted non-profit status and be then tax-exempt under both the state and federal systems.

Notary Public :- A Notary is a public officer appointed under authority of State Law who has power under the relevant Notary Statute to administer an oath, to certify affidavits, to take acknowledgements, depositions or sworn testimony, and to take certain actions in some commercial transactions, such as the formal protesting of negotiable instruments. Documents and signatures of the Notary are authenticated by recognition of the Notary Seal.

Notary Seal or Stamp :- The notary public will use an embosser of some sort, either a notary seal or a notary stamp, to imprint a document that has been notarized. Since a notary is a public officer appointed under State law administer an oath, to certify affidavits, to take acknowledgments, depositions or testimony, and to take certain actions in some commercial transactions, such as the protesting of negotiable instruments, the notary seal or stamp is how the documents and signatures are authenticated .