Here you’ll find 83 Legal terms that start with T, organized from “Takings” to “Turnover order”. They cover constitutional doctrines, property and procedural remedies, and transactional vocabulary across common-law and civil-law systems. You will use these terms when reading statutes, court opinions, legal forms, and exam materials.

Legal terms that start with T are specialized words and phrases used to describe rights, procedures, and remedies. Many have deep historical roots; for example, “takings” figures prominently in eminent domain debates and constitutional law.

Below you’ll find the table with the columns: Term, Definition, Etymology, Jurisdiction, and Notes.

Term: You see the legal word or phrase here, so you can locate and recognize the entry quickly.

Definition: Provides a concise legal definition in one or two sentences, helping you understand essential meaning and usage.

Etymology: Gives the word’s origin and root language, which helps you remember context and historical development.

Jurisdiction: Notes the legal systems or countries where the term is commonly used, so you apply it correctly.

Notes: Includes short usage tips, notable examples, or links to related entries that help your further study.

Legal terms that start with T

Term Category Jurisdiction Etymology Description
Tort Tort Common law, U.S., U.K. Latin tortus, Old French, c.13th century Civil wrong other than contract; allows injured person to seek compensation, common in negligence, battery, and strict liability cases.
Tortfeasor Tort Common law, U.S., U.K. English formation from “tort” + -feasor, 19th century Person who commits a tort; the defendant from whom an injured party seeks damages.
Tort reform Statutory/Policy U.S., Common law debates English, modern political/legal term Policy and statutory changes aimed at limiting tort liability, damages, or litigation procedures; widely debated in U.S. politics.
Tortious interference Tort/Contract Common law, U.S., U.K. English legal phrase, 19th–20th century Intentional meddling with contractual or business relations causing economic harm; plaintiff seeks damages for wrongful inducement or disruption.
Trespass Property/Crime Common law, U.S., U.K. Old French/Latin, medieval Unauthorised entry onto land or interference with possessions; can be civil or criminal depending on jurisdiction.
Treason Criminal U.S., U.K., International variants Old French/Latin tradere, medieval Serious crime against the state, like levying war or aiding enemies; punishments and definitions vary by jurisdiction.
Trial Procedure Common law, U.S., U.K. Latin triare? (Old French trial), medieval use Judicial examination of facts and law before a judge or jury to resolve disputes or criminal charges.
Trial court Procedure Common law, U.S., U.K. English, modern legal system Court where cases are first heard and evidence presented; decisions may be appealed to higher courts.
Trial de novo Procedure Common law, U.S., U.K. Latin “anew”, 18th century usage A new trial conducted as if the original trial had not occurred, often after appeal to a higher or different tribunal.
Trial by jury Procedure/Constitutional Common law, U.S., U.K. Medieval English tradition Right to have factual issues decided by a jury of peers; central in criminal trials and some civil matters.
Tribunal Procedure International, U.K., Common law Latin tribunalis, Roman origin Adjudicative body (judges or officials) that hears disputes; can be domestic courts or specialized international panels.
True bill Criminal/Procedure U.S., Common law English grand jury phrase, 17th century Grand jury finding that probable cause exists to indict; contrasts with “no bill” (no indictment).
Trover Tort/Property Common law, historical & modern citations Old French trobar, medieval Historical action for recovery of value of personal property wrongfully converted; basis for modern conversion claims.
Trust Property/Equity Common law, U.S., U.K. Old English/Latin legal evolution, medieval Fiduciary arrangement where one party (trustee) holds property for beneficiaries under terms set by settlor.
Trustee Equity Common law, U.S., U.K. Latin tradere/Old English evolution Person or entity legally responsible for managing trust property for beneficiaries, with fiduciary duties.
Trustor Equity Common law, U.S., U.K. English variant of settlor, modern usage Person who creates a trust by transferring assets and setting terms; also called settlor or grantor in many jurisdictions.
Trustee’s sale Property/Foreclosure U.S., Common law foreclosure systems English phrase, modern Foreclosure sale conducted by a trustee under a deed of trust; commonly used in U.S. non-judicial foreclosure.
Trust deed Property U.S., Common law English phrase, modern Instrument that creates a deed of trust, transferring legal title to a trustee as security for a debt.
Trust indenture act Statutory/Securities U.S. federal law English title, 1939 statute U.S. statute regulating debt indentures and trustees for public offerings to protect bondholders.
Trust protector Trusts Offshore, Common law trusts Modern trust innovation, late 20th century Person appointed to oversee or modify a trust in certain circumstances, adding flexibility to trust administration.
Trustee de son tort Equity Common law Law French, medieval Person who intermeddles with trust property and becomes liable as if a trustee, despite not being properly appointed.
Trust instrument Trusts Common law English, modern drafting term Document (trust deed or declaration) setting out the terms, powers, and duties governing a trust.
Trust corpus Trusts Common law Latin “corpus” (body), medieval usage The property or assets held within a trust (term starts with T? “Trust corpus” begins with Trust, allowed)
Testament Wills/Estate Common law, Civil law terms Latin testamentum, Roman law Formal written declaration of a person’s wishes for distribution of property after death; a will.
Testator Wills Common law, U.S., U.K. Latin testamentum derivative Person who makes a will; capacity and formalities vary by jurisdiction.
Testamentary capacity Wills/Estate Common law, U.S., U.K. Latin/testament, 19th century doctrine Legal ability to make a valid will, requiring understanding nature and effects of the disposition and relevant persons.
Testamentary trust Trusts/Estate Common law English phrase, long-standing practice Trust created under a will that takes effect on the settlor’s death to manage assets for beneficiaries.
Tenancy Property Common law, U.S., U.K. Old French/Latin tenure, medieval Legal possession or estate in land created by lease or agreement, defining rights between landlord and tenant.
Tenant Property Common law, U.S., U.K. Old French, medieval Person who holds or occupies land or property under lease or tenancy agreement.
Tenancy in common Property Common law, U.S., U.K. English, medieval estate law Co-ownership where each owner holds an undivided share that is inheritable and transferable independently.
Tenancy by entirety Property/Family Common law, U.S., some Commonwealth English matrimonial property law, 17th century Special form of joint ownership for married couples with rights of survivorship and creditor protections in some jurisdictions.
Tenancy at will Property Common law, U.S., U.K. English phrase, medieval Tenancy that can be terminated at any time by either landlord or tenant, absent a fixed term.
Tenancy at sufferance Property Common law English phrase, historical Situation where a tenant remains after lease expires without landlord’s consent; tenant holds at landlord’s sufferance.
Tenement Property Common law, U.K., historical U.S. usage Latin tenere, Old French, medieval In property law, land or buildings held by a tenant; historically denotes multi-occupancy dwellings.
Title Property Common law, U.S., U.K. Old French/Latin titulus Legal ownership or right to property; title defects affect transferability and rights.
Title insurance Property U.S., Common law Modern 19th–20th century practice Insurance protecting buyers/lenders against defects in title not discovered at closing; common in U.S. real estate.
Title search Property Common law English, modern practice Examination of public records to confirm property ownership and detect liens or encumbrances before transfer.
Title by adverse possession Property Common law, U.S., U.K. Latin/Old French legal evolution Acquisition of title to land by continuous, open, hostile possession for statutory period; rules vary by jurisdiction.
Trademark Intellectual Property U.S., U.K., International English, trademark concept from 19th century Protects brand identifiers (names, logos) used to distinguish goods or services; registered trademarks give exclusive rights.
Trademark infringement IP/Remedies U.S., U.K., International English, modern legal doctrine Unauthorized use of a mark causing consumer confusion; owner may seek injunctions and damages.
Trade secret Intellectual Property U.S., International English, statutory modern era Confidential business information providing economic advantage; misappropriation is actionable in many jurisdictions.
Trade dress Intellectual Property U.S., Common law English usage, 20th century law Visual appearance of a product or packaging that identifies source; protected if non-functional and distinctive.
Trade name Commercial/Business Common law, U.S., U.K. English commercial term Name under which a business trades; may be protectable under trademark or company law.
Trade embargo International/Administrative International, State practice English diplomatic term Governmental prohibition on trade with a target country or goods, often for political or security reasons.
Tax Taxation Universal legal systems Latin taxare, medieval Mandatory government charge on individuals or businesses; foundations of public finance and widely regulated by statute.
Tax lien Tax/Secured transactions U.S., Common law variations English phrase, statutory origin Government claim on property for unpaid taxes; can lead to levy or sale to satisfy debt.
Tax treaty Tax/International International, OECD framework English, post–World War II diplomacy International agreement allocating taxing rights between states to avoid double taxation and tax evasion.
Tax evasion Tax/Criminal U.S., U.K., International English legal phrase, modern criminalization Illegal practices to avoid paying taxes, such as fraud or deliberate misreporting; subject to penalties and criminal charges.
Tax avoidance Tax/Policy U.S., U.K., International English, modern fiscal concept Legal methods to minimize tax liability through planning; often distinguished from illegal tax evasion.
Taxable event Taxation U.S., International English statutory term Occurrence that triggers tax liability, such as sale, receipt of income, or transfer of property.
Tax shelter Tax/Finance U.S., International English financial term, late 20th century Investment or arrangement designed to reduce tax liability; some shelters are lawful, others abusive and regulated.
Takings Constitutional/Eminent domain U.S., Common law concepts Old English/Latin usage in legal doctrine Government action that deprives private property of use or value, potentially requiring compensation under takings doctrine.
Takings clause Constitutional U.S. Constitution (Fifth Amendment) English title for clause, 18th century Constitutional provision requiring just compensation when government takes private property for public use.
Tender Contract/Commercial Common law, U.S., U.K. Latin tendere, Old French Offer or delivery of performance or payment under an obligation; may discharge contractual duties if proper.
Tender of performance Contract Common law English phrase, longstanding practice Formal offer to perform contractual obligations that, if refused, can excuse nonperformance or start remedies.
Tender offer Corporate/SEC U.S., International securities English corporate finance term Public proposal to buy shares from shareholders at a specified price, often to gain control of the company.
Temporary restraining order Procedure/Equity U.S., Common law practice English phrase, modern equitable remedy Short-term court order to prevent irreparable harm before a hearing on a preliminary injunction.
Temporary injunction Procedure/Equity Common law, U.S., U.K. English equitable remedy term Short to medium-term court order restraining action until final resolution; less urgent than a TRO but precedes final injunction.
Third-party beneficiary Contracts Common law, U.S., U.K. English contract doctrine Person who benefits from a contract between others and who may have rights to enforce that contract under specific rules.
Third-party doctrine Constitutional/Evidence U.S. Fourth Amendment English doctrinal term, 20th century cases U.S. rule that information voluntarily given to third parties has reduced privacy protection under the Fourth Amendment.
Third-party practice Procedure Common law civil procedure English procedural term Procedural rules allowing a defendant to bring in another party (third party) who may be liable to the plaintiff.
Third party General/Procedure Common law English term A person or entity other than the primary parties to a legal action; appears in many legal doctrines.
Time is of the essence Contract Common law, U.S., U.K. English contractual phrase, centuries old Clause making timely performance a fundamental term; failure to meet deadline can be breach allowing termination.
Time bar Procedure Common law, U.S., U.K. English phrase, modern practice Legal restriction preventing claims after a statutory period (statute of limitations); bars remedies once period expires.
Time served Criminal Common law, U.S., U.K. English penal phrase Credit given for pre-trial detention toward a sentence; may result in immediate release if sentence equals time served.
Time limitation Procedure Common law, U.S., U.K. English legal phrase Statutory or contractual limit within which legal action must be taken; failing to act can forfeit rights.
Tolling Procedure/Statute of Limitations Common law, U.S., U.K. English verb form, legal doctrine Suspension or pausing of a statute of limitations under particular circumstances (e.g., minority, fraud).
Tort of outrage Tort (IIED) Common law, U.S., U.K. English descriptive phrase, 20th century Intentional infliction of emotional distress; severe or outrageous conduct causing extreme emotional harm.
Transfer Property/Commercial Common law, U.S., U.K. Old French/Latin transferre Act of conveying property, rights, or obligations from one party to another; subject to formalities in many cases.
Transferor Transactions Common law English formation, modern Person who conveys property or rights to another; counterpart to transferee.
Transferee Transactions Common law English formation, modern Person who receives property or rights from a transferor.
Transfer of property Property/Transactions Common law, U.S., U.K. English phrase, longstanding Legal process and documentation required to convey title or interests in land or goods.
Transfer pricing Tax/International International, OECD guidance English tax term, late 20th century Rules and methods for pricing transactions between related entities across borders to prevent profit shifting.
Transfer tax Taxation U.S., Many jurisdictions English tax term, modern statute Tax imposed on transfer of property by sale, gift, or death (includes estate, gift, and inheritance taxes).
Tracing Equity/Remedy Common law, U.S., U.K. English equitable doctrine, medieval roots Procedure to follow property or its value through transactions to identify assets for restitution or recovery.
True owner Property Common law English phrase, modern usage Person with rightful ownership of property; used in disputes over possession and title (common expression rather than technical term).
Turnover order Bankruptcy/Remedies U.S. bankruptcy law English phrase, modern statutory practice Court order requiring a party (including debtor) to deliver property to a trustee or creditor for distribution.
Trustee in bankruptcy Bankruptcy/Administration U.S., Common law bankruptcy systems English statutory role Court-appointed official who administers the debtor’s estate, liquidates assets, and distributes proceeds to creditors.
Testimony Evidence Common law, U.S., U.K. Latin testimonium, medieval Oral or written statements by witnesses under oath used as evidence at trial or in hearings.
Test case Litigation/Strategy Common law, U.S., U.K. English litigation strategy term A case chosen to establish legal precedent or clarify law on a particular issue, often used by public-interest groups.
Tenancy at sufferance Property Common law English phrase, historical See above (kept if distinct) — tenant remains after lease expiration without landlord’s consent; landlord may seek eviction.
Time-barred Procedure Common law, U.S., U.K. English adjective form Describes a claim or charge that cannot be pursued because the statutory period for filing has expired.
Tendering process Procurement/Contracts Administrative law, Public contracts English procurement term Formal procedure inviting bids and offers for contracts; governed by procurement rules and transparency requirements.

Descriptions

Tort
Tortfeasor
Tort reform
Tortious interference
Trespass
Treason
Trial
Trial court
Trial de novo
Trial by jury
Tribunal
True bill
Trover
Trust
Trustee
Trustor
Trustee’s sale
Trust deed
Trust indenture act
Trust protector
Trustee de son tort
Trust instrument
Trust corpus
Testament
Testator
Testamentary capacity
Testamentary trust
Tenancy
Tenant
Tenancy in common
Tenancy by entirety
Tenancy at will
Tenancy at sufferance
Tenement
Title
Title insurance
Title search
Title by adverse possession
Trademark
Trademark infringement
Trade secret
Trade dress
Trade name
Trade embargo
Tax
Tax lien
Tax treaty
Tax evasion
Tax avoidance
Taxable event
Tax shelter
Takings
Takings clause
Tender
Tender of performance
Tender offer
Temporary restraining order
Temporary injunction
Third-party beneficiary
Third-party doctrine
Third-party practice
Third party
Time is of the essence
Time bar
Time served
Time limitation
Tolling
Tort of outrage
Transfer
Transferor
Transferee
Transfer of property
Transfer pricing
Transfer tax
Tracing
True owner
Turnover order
Trustee in bankruptcy
Testimony
Test case
Tenancy at sufferance
Time-barred
Tendering process
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