Law Library Legal Dictionary – T

Legal Definitions – T

T-1 Visa – A visa that is given to victims of human trafficking who are physically present in the U.S. due to such trafficking.

Taser – A type of stun gun that is commonly used by police officers in order to incapacitate a person who poses a threat of harm or physical violence.

Tax – A financial charge or other levy imposed upon a taxpayer by a government entity. See Also: Tax Requirements for Independent Contractors, Capital Gains Tax, Tax Implications of Divorce

Tax Deed Sale – A public auction where the deed to a property is sold to the highest bidder in order to collect delinquent property taxes.

Tax Evasion – Any act designed to defraud the IRS.

Tax Fraud – Any act that involves the use of deceit or fraud to gain an advantage when dealing with tax reports.

Tax Lien – A claim by the Internal Revenue Service against a debtor’s property or funds for failure to pay income taxes.

Tax Treaty – A treaty between the United States and a foreign country that entitles residents from that country to reduced tax rates or exemptions under the treaty.

Taxpayer Assistance Order – An order issued by the National Taxpayer Advocate that is designed to alleviate hardships that the IRS imposes on a taxpayer.

Teacher Tenure – An employment status that can be achieved by teachers where a teacher’s employment contract becomes indefinite and they cannot be terminated without sufficient cause and process.

Technology Licensing – A contractual arrangement in which the licensor’s patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, or other intellectual property related to a piece of technology may be made available to a licensee for compensation.

Telephone Harassment – Harassment that occurs when someone intends to annoy, harass, or threaten another by making a telephone continually ring; making lewd, indecent, or obscene comments, suggestions, or requests over the telephone; making a telephone call without identifying himself; or making repeated telephone calls where the conversation consists only of harassment. This type of harassment is illegal under the Federal Communications Act and a number of state laws.

Temporary Alimony – Alimony that is received while litigation is pending. It is intended to provide continued support for the dependent spouse in a marriage while the divorce is being finalized.

Temporary Protected Status – A temporary immigration status that permits citizens of countries that the U.S. government has determined to be currently in turmoil to remain in the United States.

Temporary Visa – An immigration visa that permits a citizen from another country to be in the United States for a limited period of time.

Tenancy – The possession of land or property as a tenant. See Also: Joint Tenancy Pros and Cons, Rights and Duties of Joint Owners of Real Property, Joint Possession of Real Property

Tenancy by the Entirety – Joint ownership of property by a husband and wife who are treated as a single entity.

Tenancy in Common – A form of shared ownership of real property in which two or more persons possess shares in one piece of property simultaneously. All owners have the right to occupy and use all of the property during their ownership.

Testacy – The condition of having valid will in place at the time of death.

Testamentary Capacity – The mental and cognitive ability that the testator (i.e. the creator of the will) must possess in order to create a valid will.

Testamentary Trusts – Trusts that are specified in a person’s will. They generally come into existence upon the death of the testator, and are created according to the instructions specified by the testator.

Texting Laws – Laws that regulate the exchange of communication and information exchange through cell phone text chat features, such as laws governing sexting or texting while driving.

Theater Liability – The liability a theater owner is subjected to when they fail to exercise reasonable care to ensure that the interior and the exterior of the theater are reasonably safe for patrons.

Theft – The wrongful taking and carrying away of the property of another with the intent to deprive the person of the property permanently. See Also: Elements of Theft, Penalties and Sentencing for Theft, Theft Defenses

Theft of Services – The unauthorized use or diversion of services for the perpetrator’s benefit. It may also include securing services or performances through the use of deceit or through threats of physical harm.

Therapist Malpractice – Any departure from the accepted standards of therapy that results in an injury to the patient, such as making an inappropriate or excessive self-disclosure, failing to take adequate notes, or having a sexual relationship with a current or former patient.

Third Party Beneficiary – A person who is benefited by the contract even though he or she has not signed it and is not a party to it.

Third Party Consent Search – A police search in which a third party, such as a roommate or a spouse, consents to the search on behalf of the suspect in an area where the third party shares privacy rights with the suspect, like a shared dining room.

Third Party Custody Rights – Custody rights belonging to someone other than the child’s biological parents, such as the child’s grandparents or step-parents.