Legal Definition and Related Resources of Ability
Meaning of Ability
In divorce law. Power of husband to provide, as element of wife’s right to alimony. It is sometimes called “faculty.”
What does Ability mean in American Law?
The definition of Ability in the law of the United States, as defined by the lexicographer Arthur Leff in his legal dictionary is:
May refer (as may its cognate able) to any one of three linked concepts:
1. ability may mean natural ability, i.e., having the mental and physical equipment to do something, e.g., a person may not have the physical or
intellectual ability to understand a proposed contract;
2. ability may mean legal ability, i.e., a person may not be legally authorized to effectuate a legal act, e.g., a lower-level employee may not have the authority to enter into a contract which will bind his employer. Often meanings (1) and (2) are linked, e.g., an infant is legally unable to enter into a contract because his natural inability is by law presumed; 3. in a very common legal usage, ability may mean financial ability; the person may lack the economic wherewithal to carry out an economic obligation. See, e.g., able buyer. See also capacity; competency; and entries beginning with, or containing, those words, e.g., criminal capacity; mental competency.
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You might be interested in these references tools:
| Resource | Description |
|---|---|
| Ability in the Dictionary | Ability in our legal dictionaries | Browse the Legal Thesaurus | Find synonyms and related words of Ability |
| Legal Maxims | Maxims are established principles that jurists use as interpretive tools, invoked more frequently in international law |
| Legal Answers (Q&A) | A community-driven knowledge creation process, of enduring value to a broad audience |
| Related topics | Ability in the World Encyclopedia of Law |
Notice
This definition of Ability Is based on the The Cyclopedic Law Dictionary . This entry needs to be proofread.
Vocabularies (Semantic Web Information)
| Resource | Description |
|---|---|
| Topic Map | A group of names, occurrences and associations |
| Topic Tree | A topic display format, showing the hierarchy |
| Sitemap Index | Sitemap Index, including Taxonomies |
| https://legaldictionary.lawin.org/ability/ | The URI of Ability (more about URIs) |
Synonyms of Ability
noun
- ableness
- adaptability
- adeptness
- adequacy
- aptitude
- aptness
- capability
- capacity
- competence
- competency
- enablement
- facultas
- faculty
- fitness
- fittedness
- in genium
- mastership
- mastery
- potentiality
- potestas
- proficiency
- prowess
- skill
- versatility
- vires
- Associated Concepts: ability to contract
- ability to earn
- ability to pay
- ability to perform
- ability to provide
- ability to purchase
- ability to support
- capacity
- financial ability
- readiness
- testamentary ability
Resources
See Also
- Capacity
- Disability
- Pecunlary
- Rehabilitate
- Responsible
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