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choate

choate

9.9
Complete and legally ready to be enforced in court
  • adjective
  • /ˈkoʊət/
  • Jargon
: perfecto
  • A choate lien is one that is perfected and can be enforced in court.

Examples

  • The lawyer argued that her client's rights were choate and not merely potential.

  • The judge determined that the claimant had a choate interest in the disputed land.

  • The contract is choate and binding.

  • Once all conditions are met, the agreement will be choate.

  • The judge determined that the claimant had a choate interest in the disputed land.

  • A choate lien is one that is perfected and can be enforced in court.

  • The lawyer argued that her client's rights were choate and not merely potential.

Synonyms

complete
vschoate
751 1.0

Having all needed parts and nothing missing

is a perfected legal right that is enforceable not only whole
binding
vschoate
  • Formal
72 4.6

Required by law and able to be enforced

is a perfected legal right focusing on completion rather than mere obligation
enforceable
vschoate
  • Specialized
14 6.6

A law, rule, or agreement that officials can force people to follow

is a fully formed legal right perfected rather than only able to be imposed

Antonyms

130 2.7

Not complete and still needing work

inchoate
  • Formal
4 9.9

Not fully formed and only partly developed, like an idea or plan

How Complete

perfected
3 4.4
choate
  • Jargon
9.9
partial
212 3.4
inchoate
  • Formal
4 9.9

Surface Forms

choate positive

Etymology

The word choate comes from the older word inchoate, which meant 'not fully formed', and people dropped the beginning in- to make choate, a simple opposite meaning 'fully formed' or 'complete'. That's why in law a choate right or lien is one that is 'complete' and can be enforced in court.