Law Dictionary Definitions

safekeeping. 1. The act of protecting something in one’s custody. 2. Under the Securities Investors Protection Act, the holding of a security on behalf of the investor or broker that has paid for it. 15 USCA § 78lll(2). [Cases: Securities Regulation 185.13–185.16. C.J.S. Securities Regulation §§ 309–310, 312, 315–316, 318–319, 322.] [Blacks Law 8th]

safe house.A residence where people live under protection, usu. in anonymity. • Safe houses are operated for a range of purposes, both legal and illegal. Shelters for abused spouses and runaway children are safe houses. Law-enforcement agencies keep safe houses for undercover operations and to protect witnesses who have been threatened. Lawbreakers use them to…

safe-haven law.Family law. A statute that protects a parent who abandons a baby at a designated place such as a hospital, a physician’s office, or a fire station, where it can receive emergency medical assistance as needed. • The law typically stipulates that a parent who leaves a baby at such a place will not…

safe harbor. 1. An area or means of protection. 2. A provision (as in a statute or regulation) that affords protection from liability or penalty. • SEC regulations, for example, provide a safe harbor for an issuer’s business forecasts that are made in good faith. — Also termed safe-harbor clause; safe-harbor provision. [Cases: Securities Regulation…

safeguard. See SAFECONDUCT. [Blacks Law 8th]

safe-deposit company.See DEPOSITARY(1). [Blacks Law 8th]

safe-deposit box.A lockbox stored in a bank’s vault to secure a customer’s valuables. • It usu. takes two keys (one held by the bank and one held by the customer) to open the box. — Often shortened to deposit box. — Also termed safety-deposit box. [Cases: Warehousemen 38. C.J.S. Warehousemen and Safe Depositaries § 137.]…

safe cracker.One who breaks into a safe, esp. for the purpose of stealing the contents. — Also termed safe breaker. Cf. SAFE BLOWER. [Blacks Law 8th]

safe conduct.Int’l law. 1. A privilege granted by a belligerent allowing an enemy, a neutral, or some other person to travel within or through a designated area for a specified purpose. 2. A document conveying this privilege. — Sometimes written safe-conduct. — Also termed safeguard; passport. “Passports and safeguards, or safe conducts, are letters of…

safe breaker.See SAFE CRACKER. [Blacks Law 8th]