common law
- The legal system that the U.S. (except for Louisiana) has adopted from England, in which law evolves through judicial decisions. Statutes may codify certain areas in detail, but courts still shape the law according to common-law principles by successively interpreting those statutes.
- Pertaining to or grounded in the common law system
- Associated with or based on a marriage recognized by the common law, but not formally registered
- Since the U.S. adopted the common law system from England, our law continues to evolve through judicial decisions rather than just legislative acts.
- Even though the new statute on dog bite lawsuits provides key rules for plaintiffs to follow, the common law system means that courts will still influence how these cases unfold by interpreting that statute over time.
- In a common law system, a single judicial decision interpreting a statute can significantly shape the law for future cases.
- In a common-law marriage, the couple lives together and presents themselves as married without having a formal ceremony or license.
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