REAL PROPERTY: Land and all the things that are attached to it. Anything that is not real property is personal property and personal property is anything that isn't nailed down, dug into or built onto the land. A house is real property, but a dining room set is not.
REASONABLE CARE: The level of care a typical person would use if faced with the same circumstances.
REASONABLE DOUBT: The level of certainty a juror must have to find a defendant guilty of a crime.
RE-CROSS EXAMINATION: Questioning a witness about matters brought up during re-direct examination.
RE-DIRECT EXAMINATION: Questioning a witness about matters brought up during cross examination.
REFUGEE: A person who applies to enter the U.S. from outside the country, claiming an inability or unwillingness to return to (or remain in) the home country because of a well-founded fear of persecution.
REMAND: When an appellate court sends a case back to a lower court for further proceedings.
REPLEVIN: Repossession. Action taken by a creditor to seize assets of a debtor.
RESIDUARY LEGATEE: The person or persons named in a will to receive any residue left in an estate after the bequests of specific items are made.
RES IPSA LOQUITUR: A Latin phrase, that means "the thing speaks for itself." Refers to situations when it's assumed that a person's injury was caused by the negligent action of another party because the accident was the sort that wouldn't occur unless someone was negligent.
RETAINER: Refers to the up front payment a client gives a lawyer to accept a case. The client is paying to "retain" the lawyer's services.
RETAINING LIEN: Gives a lawyer the right to hold on to your money or property (such as a deed) until you pay the bill.
REVOCABLE LIVING TRUST: A trust created during the maker's lifetime that can be changed. Allows the creator to pass assets on to chosen beneficiaries without going through probate.
RIGHT AGAINST SELF-INCRIMINATION: Granted by the Fifth Amendment. Allows a person to refuse to answer questions that would subject him or her to accusation of a criminal act.
RIGHT OF EMINENT DOMAIN: The government's right to acquire private property for public use.
RIGHT OF SURVIVORSHIP: In a joint-tenancy, the property automatically goes to the co-owners if one of the co-owners dies. A co-owner in a joint tenancy cannot give away his or her share of the property.