Legal Definitions - link

The term "link" has several distinct meanings in legal and general contexts:

• As a Hyperlink (Digital Context)

  In the digital realm, a "link" (or hyperlink) is an interactive element on a webpage or digital document that, when activated (typically by clicking), directs the user to another specific location. This location could be a different webpage, a file, or a distinct section within the same document.

  • Example 1: Navigating an Online Store

    When a customer is browsing an online clothing store and clicks on a small image of a shirt, they are activating a link. This action takes them from the general product category page to a dedicated page displaying detailed information about that specific shirt, including its price, available sizes, and customer reviews.

    Explanation: The shirt image acts as a clickable component that connects the user from one part of the website (the category page) to another (the specific product page), fitting the definition of a hyperlink.

  • Example 2: Accessing Legal Resources

    A legal aid website might feature a section titled "Know Your Rights." Within this section, there could be a phrase like "Click here for information on tenant rights" which is underlined and appears in a different color. Clicking this phrase would activate a link, taking the user to a PDF document or a new webpage containing detailed legal guidance on tenant protections.

    Explanation: The underlined phrase serves as a digital connector, allowing users to navigate directly to a specific legal resource, whether it's another page on the same site or an external document.

• As a Connecting Element (Legal Series or Chain)

  In a legal context, a "link" can refer to an individual component or connection within a sequence or series of events, documents, or ownership transfers. It signifies an essential connection that binds separate elements together, often establishing continuity or a logical progression.

  • Example 1: Chain of Title for Real Estate

    When someone buys a house, their attorney will examine the "chain of title," which is the historical record of ownership for that property. Each deed, mortgage, or other legal document that transferred ownership from one party to the next is considered a link in this chain. If a deed is missing or improperly recorded, it creates a "break in the chain," which can complicate or invalidate the current owner's claim.

    Explanation: Each document represents a crucial connection in the continuous sequence of ownership, binding the property's history together. A missing document means a missing connection or "link."

  • Example 2: Chain of Custody for Evidence

    In a criminal trial, if a prosecutor introduces a piece of evidence, such as a recovered weapon, they must establish its "chain of custody." This means showing a documented, unbroken sequence of possession from the moment the weapon was found at the crime scene until it is presented in court. Each person who handled the weapon, and each secure storage location, represents a crucial link in this chain, ensuring the evidence has not been tampered with.

    Explanation: Each documented transfer and period of secure storage forms a critical connection in the history of the evidence, proving its integrity and preventing questions about its authenticity.

• As a Unit of Measurement (Historical Surveying)

  Historically, a "link" was also a specific unit of linear measurement, primarily used in land surveying. One link was precisely 7.92 inches, and 100 links made up one chain (66 feet).

  • Example: Old Property Descriptions

    An antique land deed from the 19th century might describe a property boundary as extending "250 links due east from the oak tree." This measurement would have been taken using a surveyor's chain, which was literally made of metal links.

    Explanation: In this context, "link" refers to a standardized unit of distance used to define property lines, reflecting the surveying practices of the time.