Retainer
Legal Definition and Related Resources of Retainer
☑️ This definition is part of the content of Lawi's courses, guides, tools and other solutions and the world's leading and largest online law dictionary. It offers legal definitions, synonyms, word origins, translations, meanings, example sentences, and more. It is considered a trusted authority, a broad glossary of legal terms and an unsurpassed guide for professionals, students and researchers in any discipline related to law and, in general, to the social sciences. Do you like what you read? Can I ask a favor from you? Like and share it with your family and friends so that others can discover it too. If you have been forwarded this text, please subscribe here.
Meanings, Synonyms, Etymology, Translations and More
Meaning of Retainer
In the law relating to administration of estates , the term denotes the common law right of an executor or administrator who is also a creditor of the deceased to retain as much of the estate as is sufficient to pay the debt, in preference to all other creditors of equal degree. Also, the term denotes the duty of an executor or administrator to hold back from the share of a legatee any amount of debt owed to the deceased by the legatee. The term also has the meaning of an advance payment of a fee or part thereof which a client pays to an attorney when he retains the attorney to act for him. Any fee paid to engage any professional advisor to give advice , or to secure a prior claim upon his services in case of need, and thus is not limited to lawyers fees. See Irwin v Young, 90 S. E.2d 22, 212 Ga. 1.
Retainer Alternative Definition
The act of withholding what one has in one's own hands, by virtue of some right. See "Administrator;" "Executor;" "Lien." In Practice. The act of a client by which he engages an attorney or counsellor to manage a cause, either by prosecuting it, when he is plaintiff, or defending it, when he is defendant. 200 111. 353. The word is also used to denote the fee which the client pays his attorney when he retains him to act for him, and thereby prevents him from acting for his adversary. 200 111. 353; 38 Kan. 668. In English practice, a much more formal retainer is usually required than in America. Thus it is said by Chitty (3i Prac. 116, note [m]), that, although it is not indispensable that the retainer should be in writing, unless required by the other side, it is very expedient. It is therefore recommended, particularly when the client is a stranger, to require from him a written retainer, signed by himself, and, in order to avoid the insinuation that it was obtained by contrivance, it should be witnessed by one or more respectable persons. When there are several plaintiffs, it should be signed by all, and not by one for himself and the others, especially if they are trustees or assignees of a bankrupt or insolvent. The retainer should also state whether it be given for a general or a qualified authority. See 9 Wheat. (U. S.) 738, 830; 6 Johns. (N. Y.) 34, 296; 11 Johns. (N. Y.) 464; 1 N. H. 23; 28 N. H. 302; 7 Har. & J. (Md.) 275; 27 Miss. 567.
Retainer Legal Definition
The fee which the client pays when he/she retains an attorney.
Synonyms of Retainer
noun
anhabo
compensation
employment fee
engaging fee
fee contingent on future legal services
fee paid to secure legal services
income
payment
professional fee
recompense
remuneration
retaining fee Associated Concepts: attorney's retainer
Related Entries of Retainer in the Lawi Project
Browse or run a search for Retainer in the legal resources (including dictionaries and American law definitions), the Asian legal platform, the European law platform, the British legal resources or the Latin American and Spanish platform and publications (Lawi) about law in the world.
Retainer in Historical Law
You might be interested in the historical meaning of this term. Browse or search for Retainer in historical law and the evolution of legal systems (study).
Legal Abbreviations and Acronyms
Search for legal acronyms and/or abbreviations containing Retainer in the Legal Abbreviations and Acronyms Dictionary.
Related Legal Terms
You might be also interested in these legal terms:
Mentioned in these terms
Retainer Of Debts, Right Of Retainer.
Browse
You might be interested in these references tools, listed by resource (with its description) here:
Retainer in the Dictionary: Retainer in our legal dictionaries
Browse the Legal Thesaurus: Find synonyms and related words of Retainer
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: Retainer in this project about law in the world (Lawi)
Notice
This definition of Retainer is based on the The Cyclopedic Law Dictionary. This entry needs to be proofread.
Vocabularies (Semantic Web Information)
Learn from the following resources (with their descriptions):
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://dictionarylaw.substack.com/p/retainer/: The URI of Retainer (more about URIs)
Resources
Professional Content and Learning Tools
Lawi offers educational solutions and professional insight, integrating content, tools, and practical technology to promote lifelong learning, personal and professional improvement, and human progress through knowledge. Our collections feature resources and solutions from a wide range of subject areas, from management and finance to law and cybersecurity. This text is only a brief introduction. If you would like us to expand on this content, please let us know in the comments. If you’re finding our platform and publications valuable, share it with a colleague or friend, leave a comment and consider subscribing if you haven’t already (thanks!). There are group discounts, gift options, and referral bonuses available.
See Also
Executors and Administrators
M eaning of Retainer in the U.S. Legal System
Definition of Retainer published by the National Association for Court Management: Act of the client in employing the attorney or counsel, and also denotes the fee which the client pays when he or she retains the attorney to act for them.
Retainer