Simple English definitions for legal terms
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Estreat: A copy of a legal document, like a fine or punishment, that is taken from the official record and given to someone who needs to collect it. It's also called an "extract" in Scottish law. The term can also refer to the process of taking a forfeited agreement from court records and returning it to the court for prosecution.
Definition: Estreat (e-street) refers to a copy or duplicate of an original writing or record, particularly of a fine or amercement imposed by a court. It is extracted from the record and certified to someone who is authorized and required to collect it. In Scots law, it is also known as extract.
Example: When a court imposes a fine on someone, they receive an estreat, which is a copy of the fine that they must pay. This copy is extracted from the court's records and certified to the person who is responsible for collecting the fine.
Explanation: The example illustrates how an estreat is a copy of a fine or amercement imposed by a court. It is extracted from the court's records and certified to the person who is responsible for collecting the fine. This helps ensure that the fine is paid and that the court's decision is enforced.
Verb: Estreat can also be used as a verb, which means to take out a forfeited recognizance from the recordings of a court and return it to the court to be prosecuted.