Legal Definitions - L

A to Z Blogging Challenge.  My topic is LEGAL DEFINITIONS EXPLAINED IN PLAIN [AND HOPEFULLY HUMOROUS] ENGLISH.

Landlord – an owner of real property who rents that property to others, called tenants. Synonyms for landlord include scumbag, slumlord, money-grubber, and “the people who pay my salary.”

Leading question – a question which suggests the answer. Leading questions are generally not allowed on direct examination [questioning your own witnesses] but are permitted on cross-examination [questioning your opponent's witnesses]. Examples of leading questions are “Wasn't that driver going too fast in the fog?” and “Was the rent one thousand dollars per month?” Perry Mason did it best - “Isn't it true you shot Bob because you caught him in bed with your wife?”

Lease – a rental agreement with a fixed beginning and ending date. If you rent your apartment for one year, January 1 through December 31, you have a one-year lease. If the rental agreement has a specific beginning date but no definite ending date, it is a month-to-month agreement. In CA, a month-to-month agreement can be terminated by the tenant, by giving the landlord a 30 day notice, and by the landlord, by giving the tenant a 30 day or 60 day notice, depending on certain factors. A lease cannot be terminated without the agreement of both parties or the occurrence of specific events, for example a fire destroys the premises or an active-duty military person is deployed. The death of the tenant, in most cases, operates as a 30 day notice to terminate the tenancy of a month-to-month agreement, but does NOT terminate a lease, altho some leases do include that provision.