Legal Dictionary of Pakistan

Formal

adj. 1. Pertaining to or following established procedural rules, customs, and practices. 2. Ceremonial. - formality, n.

Informal

adj. Not done or performed in accordance with normal forms or procedures <an informal proceeding>.

Ratio est formalis causa consuetudinis

Reason is the source and formal cause of custom.

accusation,n. 1. A formal charge of criminal wrongdoing. 0 The accusation is usu. presenter) to a court or magistrate having jurisdiction tf) inquire into the alleged crime. 2. An informs i statement

formal agreement

an agreement in which the law requires not only the consent of the parties but also a manifestation of the agreement in some particular form, in default of which the agreement is null.

formal agreement.

See AGREEMENT.

formal contract

Hist. A written contract under seal.

formal contract.

See CONTRACT.

formal party.

See nominal party under PARTY (2).

formal rulemaking

Agency rulemaking that, when required by statute or the agency's discretion, must be on the record after an opportunity for an agency hearing, and must comply with certain procedures, such as allowing the submission of evidence and the cross-examination of witnesses. Cf. informal rulemaking.

formalities.

1. Small points of practice that, though seemingly unimportant, must be observed to achieve a particular legal result. 2. Hist. Robes worn by magistrates on solemn occasions. formal law. Procedural law. "Procedure is by many German writers inappropriately called 'formal law."' Thomas E. Holland, The Elements of Jurisprudence 358 n.2 (13th ed. 1924).

informal agency action.

Administrative-agency activity other than adjudication or rulemaking, such as investigation, publicity, or supervision. Cf RULEMAKING. informal contract. See parol contract (2) under CONTRACT.

informal contract

See parol contract (2).

informal dividend

A payment of salary, rent, interest, or the like to or for a shareholder as a substitute for a dividend. - Also termed disguised dividend.

informal dividend.

See DIVIDEND.

informal immunity.

See pocket immunity under IMMUNITY (3).

informal marriage

See common-law marriage.

informal marriage.

See common-law marriage under MARRIAGE (1).

informal probate

Probate designed to operate with minimal involvement of the probate court. ( Most modern probate codes encourage this type of administration, with an independent personal representative. - Also termed independent probate.

informal probate.

See PROBATE,

informal proceeding

A trial conducted in a more relaxed manner than a typical court trial, such as an administrative hearing or a trial in small-claims court.

informal proceeding.

See PROCEEDING.

informal proof of claim

A proof of claim stating a creditor's demand for payment and intent to hold the debtor's bankruptcy estate liable, but that does not comply with the Bankruptcy Code's form for proofs of claim. ( A late-filed proof of claim may be given effect if the creditor had timely filed an informal proof of claim.

informal proof of claim.

See PROOF OF CLAIM

informal rulemaking

Agency rulemaking in which the agency publishes a proposed regulation and receives public comments on the regulation, after which the regulation can take effect without the necessity of a formal hearing on the record. 0 Informal rulemaking is the most common procedure followed by an agency in issuing its substantive rules. -Also termed notice-and-comment rulemaking. See NOTICE-AND-COMMENT PERIOD. Cf. formal rulemaking.

informal rulemaking.

See RULEMAKING.

legal formalism

n. The theory that law is a set of rules and principles independent of other political and social institutions. ( Legal formalism was espoused by such scholars as Christo- pher Columbus Langdell and Lon Fuller. legal formalist, n. Cf. LEGAL REALISM.