wex definitions

Abandoned property is personal property that was left by an owner who intentionally relinquishes all rights to its control.  Real property may not be abandoned (see also adverse possession).

• property law
• personal property

Abandonment is a term that generally refers to a voluntary parting or the discarding of an object with no intent to return or reclaim the item. However, it varies in application across different areas of the law.

Abandonment (of Residence) is a determination by the U.S.

Abandonment of a trademark occurs when the owner of the trademark deliberately ceases to use the trademark for three or more years, with no intention of using the trademark again in the future.

To abate means to eliminate or to nullify. 

This verb usually arises in the context of abatement.

[Last reviewed in October of 2024 by the Wex Definitions Team]

Abatement is the act of reducing or nullifying something. Multiple subjects throughout law are subject to abatement and the term appears in many locations.

Abatement ab initio is a rule in criminal law which negates a conviction if the defendant died before they could exhaust all appeals. In People v.

An abatement clause is defined as a provision in a lease agreement that releases the tenant from paying rent if an act of God makes occupancy impossible or otherwise precludes the property from being used.

See also: Abatement

• property

The ABC test is used in some states to determine whether a person is an employee or an independent contractor for the purpose of determining state unemployment tax. Some courts using this test look at whether a worker meets three separate criteria to be considered an independent contractor:

• employment law

Abduction refers to the criminal taking or capture of an individual against their will or without their consent, generally by means of persuasion, fraud or force.