Law Dictionary Definitions

family-purpose rule.Torts. The principle that a vehicle’s owner is liable for injuries or damage caused by a family member’s negligent driving. • Many states have abolished this rule. — Also termed family-purpose doctrine; family-automobile doctrine; family-car doctrine. Cf. GUEST STATUTE. [Cases: Automobiles 195(5). C.J.S. Motor Vehicles § 843.] “A number of jurisdictions have adopted the…

family reunification.See REUNIFICATION.[Blacks Law 8th]

family partnership.See PARTNERSHIP.[Blacks Law 8th]

family of nations.Int’l law. The community of countries to which international law applies. • This term is now obsolescent. It is increasingly rejected as Eurocentric. “ ‘The family of nations’ is an aggregate of States which, as the result of their historical antecedents, have inherited a common civilisation, and are at a similar level of…

family of marks.Trademarks. A group of trademarks that share a recognizable characteristic so that they are recognized by consumers as identifying a single source. • An example of a family of marks is the variety of marks beginning with Mc- and identifying items served at McDonald’s restaurants.[Blacks Law 8th]

family meeting.Hist. Civil law. 1. An advisory council called to aid the court in a family-law matter, such as arrangement of a guardianship for a minor or an incompetent adult. • If a person had no relatives, the court could summon friends of the person instead. 2. A council of relatives of a minor assembled…

family leave.An unpaid leave of absence from work taken to have or care for a baby or to care for a sick family member. See FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE ACT. [Cases: Civil Rights C.J.S. Civil Rights §§ 64–65.][Blacks Law 8th]

family law. 1. The body of law dealing with marriage, divorce, adoption, child custody and support, child abuse and neglect, paternity, juvenile delinquency, and other domestic-relations issues. — Also termed domestic relations; domestic-relations law. 2. (More broadly) the bodies of law dealing with wills and estates, property, constitutional rights, contracts, employment, and finance as they…

family home.A house that was purchased during marriage and that the family has resided in, esp. before a divorce. • In some jurisdictions, the court may award the family home to the custodial parent until (1) the youngest child reaches the age of 18 or is otherwise emancipated, (2) the custodial parent moves, or (3)…

family-farmer bankruptcy.See CHAPTER12 (2).[Blacks Law 8th]