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Dictionary of Law Terms: Fraud

Forgery. The fraudulent making or alteration of a writing to the prejudice of another. Fraud. A dishonest or illegal artifice by which undue advantage is taken of another, or by which the interests of that other are unjustly prejudiced. Fraud strikes at the root of every transaction, and vitiates every contract, whether by record, deed, or otherwise.

Freehold. An estate in lands for life or of inheritance. Further assurance. The name given to a covenant in a conveyance whereby the grantor undertakes to do any further act which may be required for perfecting the grantee's estate.

Future estates. Estates not in possession, but in expectancy, as a remainder. Garnishee. The party in whose hands money, due to a defendant, is attached. General issue. A form of plea in common-law actions; so called because the issue that it tenders goes to the whole cause of action.

Gift. A voluntary conveyance or gift of lands or goods. If of the former, it is liable to be defeated in the life-time of the grantor, by his conveying the same lands to a purchaser, for a valuable consideration, even though with notice of the prior gift. Grand Jury. The jury to whom all bills of indictment are referred in the first instance. It is the duty of this jury to interrogate the witnesses for the prosecution, and ascertain whether or not a prima facie case is made out against the prisoner: if so, they find a true bill, and he takes his trial; if not, they ignore the bill, and he is discharged.

Grant. A generic term applied to all transfers of real property. Ground-rent. A rent reserved to himself and his heirs out of the land conveyed, by the grantor of land in fee simple.