Simple English definitions for legal terms
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Term: SUBTRACTION
Definition: Subtraction is when someone takes something that doesn't belong to them, especially from someone who has died and left their things to others.
Definition: Subtraction (səb-strak-shən), n. The act of secretly taking property, especially from an estate left by someone who has died.
Example: After her father passed away, Jane discovered that her brother had committed subtraction by taking valuable items from their father's estate without telling anyone.
Explanation: This example illustrates subtraction because Jane's brother secretly took property from their father's estate without the knowledge or consent of the other heirs. This is a form of theft and is illegal.
Example: The lawyer was accused of subtraction when it was discovered that he had taken money from his client's trust fund without permission.
Explanation: This example shows how subtraction can occur in a legal setting. The lawyer was entrusted with his client's money and used it for his own purposes without permission, which is a form of subtraction.