LAW

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KembaraXtra – Legal Terms – Obliteration
Obliteration refers to the deletion or erasure of words in a will.
Such deletions are legally effective only if the removed words are no longer readable or if the alteration has been properly signed and witnessed in accordance with legal formalities.
If these requirements are not satisfied, the attempted alteration may be invalid.

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​KembaraXtra – Legal Terms – Obligation


An obligation is a legal duty or responsibility imposed by law or agreement.


The term may refer generally to duties owed by one person to another, such as contractual obligations or statutory duties.


Historically, it could also refer specifically to a *bond executed by deed.
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KembaraXtra – Legal Terms – Objects of a Power
The objects of a power are the persons who may benefit from a *power of appointment.
They are the individuals in whose favour the holder of the power may choose to appoint property or benefits.
Such persons are therefore potential beneficiaries under the power.

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KembaraXtra – Legal Terms – Open Contract
An open contract is a contract for the sale of land in which only the essential terms are expressly stated, namely the identity of the parties, the property being sold, and the purchase price.
Even though few terms are expressly written, the law implies a number of additional obligations into the agreement. These include the vendor’s duty to convey good title, provide vacant possession, and complete the transaction within a reasonable time.
For unregistered land, the vendor must also provide an abstract of title beginning with a suitable *root of title, traditionally at least 15 years old.
If completion is delayed beyond a reasonable time, the vendor may claim interest on the unpaid purchase money, while the purchaser may become entitled to income generated by the property from the date completion should have occurred.
In practice, modern conveyancing rarely relies solely on open contracts because detailed standard conditions of sale are usually incorporated to regulate the parties’ rights and obligations more precisely.

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KembaraXtra – Legal Terms – Onus Probandi
The Latin phrase onus probandi means “burden of proof.”
It refers to the legal duty imposed on a party to establish the truth of facts asserted in court proceedings.
The concept is fundamental in both civil and criminal law and determines which party must produce sufficient evidence to satisfy the court.
In criminal proceedings, the onus probandi usually rests upon the prosecution, while in civil proceedings it generally rests upon the claimant.
The phrase is commonly used interchangeably with *onus of proof and *burden of proof.

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KembaraXtra – Legal Terms – Onus of Proof
The onus of proof refers to the obligation placed upon a party in legal proceedings to prove a particular fact or issue.
It is another expression for the *burden of proof.
In criminal cases, the prosecution generally bears the onus of proving the defendant’s guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
In civil cases, the claimant usually bears the onus of proving the claim on the balance of probabilities.
In some situations, the burden may shift from one party to another depending on presumptions, statutory provisions, or evidential matters raised during the case.

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KembaraXtra – Legal Terms – Onomastic
Onomastic describes a signature that is written in handwriting different from that of the document to which it is attached.
This term is used in legal and forensic contexts when examining the authenticity or authorship of documents.
A difference between the handwriting of the signature and the body of the document may raise questions about whether the document was completed or altered by another person.
Such issues may become important in disputes involving wills, contracts, deeds, or allegations of forgery.
Handwriting experts may be called upon to examine whether an onomastic signature affects the validity or authenticity of the document.

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​KembaraXtra – Legal Terms – On All Fours With


When one legal case is said to be “on all fours with” another, it means that the legal principles governing both cases are directly analogous.


This expression is closely connected with the doctrine of *precedent and the principle of *stare decisis, which require similar legal issues to be decided consistently.


The important similarity lies not necessarily in identical facts but in the applicability of the earlier case’s *ratio decidendi, or legal reasoning, to the later dispute.


Courts therefore compare the underlying legal principles rather than merely factual details.


If a case is truly “on all fours with” a previous decision, the earlier authority will usually strongly influence or determine the outcome of the later case.
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KembaraXtra – Legal Terms – Omnia Praesumuntur Rite et Solemniter Esse Acta
The Latin maxim omnia praesumuntur rite et solemniter esse acta means “all things are presumed to have been done correctly and formally.”
This principle reflects a legal *presumption that official acts, legal procedures, and formalities have been properly carried out unless evidence proves otherwise.
Courts often rely on this presumption to support the validity of official documents, judicial acts, or administrative procedures.
The maxim promotes certainty and efficiency in legal proceedings by avoiding unnecessary challenges to routine official actions.
However, the presumption may be rebutted if convincing evidence demonstrates procedural irregularity or illegality.

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​KembaraXtra – Legal Terms – Omission


An omission is a failure to act when action might reasonably be expected or legally required.


In criminal law, a person is generally not liable merely for failing to act. For example, there is usually no criminal liability for simply failing to rescue someone in danger.


However, criminal liability may arise where a legal duty to act exists. Such duties may arise from contracts, parental responsibilities, voluntary assumption of care, statutory obligations, or special relationships.


Examples include a railway gatekeeper failing to close a gate as required by contract (*R v Pittwood), parents failing to feed a child (*R v Gibbins and Proctor), or carers neglecting someone dependent on them (*R v Stone & Dobinson).


In tort law, there is likewise generally no liability for pure inaction, although certain relationships or responsibilities may create duties to act, such as the duties owed by occupiers toward lawful visitors.
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