All Legal Terms by letter Q

Qualified Domestic Relations Order :- A qualified domestic relations order is entered in some dissolution of marriage cases. The purpose of the QDRO, as it is called, is to secure pension benefits belonging to one party to be split in some equitable fashion to the other party. The order mandates the third party employer, or pension manager, to comply with the order, even though the employer is not a party in the proceeding. The QDRO essentially orders the pension manager to pay the spouse as a beneficiary under the pension plan.

Qualified Endorsement :- An endorsement becomes qualified when he endorser uses the words "without recourse" or other similar language on the endorsement line of the check. This constitutes a qualification on the endorsement. As a result, the endorser's liability on the check will be limited, or qualified.

Qualified Medical Child Support Order :- A qualified medical child support order is entered in some dissolution of marriage cases. The purpose of the order is to require medical benefits belonging to one spouse to be paid for the benefit of children of the marriage. The order ends up binding the third party employer, who is giving the medical benefit, even though the employer was not a party to the divorce proceeding.

Qualified Opinion :- A qualified opinion is the opinion of an independent auditor, or accountant, that contains a disclaimer of sorts, such that the opinion is based on less than full information, or that it does not take into account certain events likely to occur in the future. This is the opposite of an unqualified opinion.

Qualified Retirement Plan :- A qualified retirement plan is a type of retirement plan that is set up in accordance with and for the purpose of taking advantage of special tax treatment under Section 401 of the Internal Revenue Code.
Quantum Meruit :- Quantum meruit literally means "as much as he deserves" and refers to the contract remedy whereby a liability is implied because of the benefit that was bestowed by someone's efforts. This remedy avoids unjust enrichment. Basically, a party doing work for another is entitled to the value of his work under the quantum meruit theory.

Quiet Enjoyment :- Quiet enjoyment refers to the common law covenant between landlords and tenants that the tenant will be allowed the quiet use of the property without interference from the landlord. The covenant is understood to exist in lease agreements, even when they are silent on the subject.
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Qui Tam Action :- Qui Tam is the Latin phrase for an action brought by a private citizen on behalf of the King as well as on behalf of himself. Modernly, Qui Tam refers to cases brought by citizens under the Federal Civil False Claims Act, or some other statute. Qui Tam is sometimes shortened to QT. This form of action has been very effective as a remedy in addressing wrongs committed by government contractors and others that may have committed some type of fraud costly to the government. The plaintiff that sues in Qui Tam will be entitled to share in some significant portion of any recovery that is had.

Quitclaim Deed :- A quitclaim deed is a deed by which a person grants to another all of his interest in some real property by agreeing to stop making claims on the property. This is a dangerous deed, in a sense, because there is no warranty of what actual title the grantee is getting. If the grantor's claim to the property is worthless, so is his quitclaim.