Simple English definitions for legal terms
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Term: Willful
Definition: Willful means doing something on purpose, with the intention of achieving a specific result. It is different from doing something by accident or without knowing what you are doing. The meaning of willful depends on the situation it is used in. For example, in criminal law, it means doing something intentionally, while in workers' compensation, it means doing something recklessly or with knowledge. In tort law, a willful tort is a deliberate and conscious act of harm.
The term willful refers to actions that are done intentionally, consciously, voluntarily, and with the intention of achieving a specific outcome. The meaning of the term "willful" varies depending on the context in which it is used.
These examples illustrate how the term "willful" is used in different legal contexts to describe intentional actions or omissions. In each example, the term "willful" is used to distinguish intentional behavior from accidental or innocent behavior.