Simple English definitions for legal terms
Read a random definition: additional instruction
Term: Remote
Definition: Remote means something is very far away or not closely related. For example, if something is too far away from a trial issue, it may not be allowed as evidence. A cause that is not directly related to an accident is called a remote cause. In property law, remote refers to an interest that must vest within 21 years after a person's death. If it doesn't, the interest is void.
Definition: Extremely far off or slight. Evidence may be so remote from the issues in a trial that it will not be allowed because it is "immaterial." An act which started the events that led to an accident may be too remote to be a cause, as distinguished from the "proximate cause."
Example: Doug Driver is passing a corner when a friend calls out to him, causing him to look away. When he looks back, he is hit by a truck backing out of a driveway. The momentary inattention is not a cause of the injury and is called a "remote cause."
Explanation: In this example, the friend's call is a remote cause because it is not directly related to the accident. The accident was caused by the truck backing out of the driveway, which is the proximate cause. The friend's call is too far removed from the accident to be considered a cause.
Additional Example: The rule against perpetuities is a legal concept that limits the time that title to property can be suspended out of commerce. It states that no interest subject to a condition precedent is valid unless the condition must be fulfilled, if at all, within 21 years after some life in being at the creation of the interest. This means that a gift or transaction that exceeds the time limits of the rule is void.
Explanation: This example illustrates how the concept of remote can be applied to property law. The rule against perpetuities is designed to prevent property from being tied up for too long, which would be considered a remote situation. The rule ensures that property can be bought and sold within a reasonable timeframe, which benefits both buyers and sellers.