IMMIGRANT VISA: Allows an alien to become a lawful permanent resident of the U.S. and to work legally, travel abroad and return, bring in a spouse and children and become eligible for citizenship.
IMMUNITY: Exemption from a legal duty, penalty or prosecution.
IMPAIRMENT: When a person's faculties are diminished so that his or her ability to see, hear, walk, talk and judge distances is below the normal level as set by the state. Typically, impairment is caused by drug or alcohol use, but can also be caused by mental illness. Even if a person's alcohol level is lower than the legal intoxication level, he can still be convicted if the state can show his abilities were impaired.
IMPLIED CONSENT LAWS: (also called express consent) Laws adopted by all states that apply to testing for alcohol in the blood, breath or urine (most states have such laws that apply to testing for the use of drugs). The principle underlying these laws is that any licensed driver who operates a vehicle has consented to submit to approved tests to show intoxication.
IMPLIED WARRANTY: A guarantee imposed by law in a sale. Even though the seller may not make any explicit promises, the buyer still gets some protection.
IMPLIED WARRANTY OF FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE: Warranty that exists when a seller should know that a buyer is relying on the seller's expertise.
IMPLIED WARRANTY OF HABITABILITY: Law that exists in most states which governs residential rentals and asserts that regardless of what a lease says, the landlord must provide premises that are safe and habitable at some basic level. Problems with essential building services and cleanliness are often breaches of the implied warranty and the landlord will be required to correct them.
IMPLIED WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY: Warranty that guarantees that goods are reasonably fit for their ordinary purpose.
IN CAMERA: Latin for "in chambers." Refers to a hearing or inspection of documents that takes places in private, often in a judge's chambers.
INDICTMENT: A formal accusation of a felony, issued by a grand jury after considering evidence presented by a prosecutor.
INDIGENT: Lacking in funds; poor.
INFORMATION: A formal accusation of a crime, issued by a prosecutor. An alternative to an indictment.
INFORMED CONSENT: Except in the case of an emergency, a doctor must obtain a patient's agreement (informed consent) to any course of treatment. Doctors are required to tell the patient anything that would substantially affect the patient's decision. Such information typically includes the nature and purpose of the treatment, its risks and consequences and alternative courses of treatment.
INFRACTIONS: Sometimes called violations. Minor offenses, often traffic tickets, which are punishable only by a fine.
INFRINGEMENT: Unauthorized use, typically of a patent or copyright.
INTERLOCUTORY ORDER: Temporary order issued during the course of litigation. Typically cannot be appealed because it is not final.
INTERROGATORIES: Part of the pre-trial discovery (fact-finding) process in which a witness provides written answers to written questions under oath. The answers often can be used as evidence in the trial.
INTESTATE: To die without a will.
IRREVOCABLE LIVING TRUST: A trust created during the maker's lifetime that does not allow the maker to change it.