Legal Definitions - yield

In legal contexts, the term yield carries two primary meanings:

• First, it refers to the act of giving way, conceding, or surrendering control, often when required by law, regulation, or a specific agreement.
• Second, it describes the act of producing, generating, or bringing forth a result, outcome, or return.

Here are some examples illustrating these meanings:

• Example 1 (Giving Way/Surrendering Control):

  A local ordinance mandates that property owners whose land abuts a public right-of-way must yield a certain amount of space for utility easements during new construction projects.

  Explanation: In this instance, "yield" means the property owner must legally surrender or give up a portion of their land for public use, even though they retain ownership of the remaining property. This is a concession of control over that specific strip of land, as required by law.

• Example 2 (Producing a Result/Outcome):

  During a criminal investigation, a thorough examination of the suspect's digital devices yielded encrypted communications and location data that were critical to establishing a timeline of events.

  Explanation: Here, "yielded" signifies that the examination process successfully produced or brought forth specific pieces of evidence (encrypted communications, location data) that were valuable to the investigation.

• Example 3 (Generating a Return/Benefit):

  The trust fund established for the beneficiaries was carefully managed by the trustee, and its diversified portfolio consistently yielded a healthy annual return, ensuring financial stability for the heirs.

  Explanation: In this context, "yielded" refers to the financial return or profit generated by the investments within the trust fund. The management of the portfolio produced a beneficial financial outcome for the beneficiaries.