recognizance

recognizance
/ri kog"neuh zeuhns, -kon"euh-/, n.
1. Law.
a. a bond or obligation of record entered into before a court of record or a magistrate, binding a person to do a particular act.
b. the sum pledged as surety on such a bond.
2. Archaic. recognition.
3. Archaic. a token; badge.
[1350-1400; ME reconissaunce, recognisance < OF reconuissance. See RECOGNIZE, -ANCE]

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In law, obligation entered into before a court or magistrate requiring the performance of an act (e.g., appearance in court), usually under penalty of a money forfeiture.

The most common use of recognizance is in connection with bail in criminal cases. The accused may also be released on his "own recognizance" when no bail is required.

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▪ law
      in Anglo-American law, obligation entered into before a judge or magistrate whereby a party (the recognizor) binds himself to owe a sum of money in the event that he does not perform a stipulated act. If he fails to perform the required act, the money may be collected in an appropriate legal proceeding.

      The most common use of the recognizance is in connection with bail in criminal cases. By filing in court a bail bond, a person arrested for a crime may generally secure his release from imprisonment pending his trial or sometimes pending his appeal after conviction. Generally he posts money or property as surety. When no surety is required, the accused is said to be released “on his own recognizance.” See also bail.

      In civil litigation the recognizance of a party may be required to ensure the payment of costs (i.e., amounts of money losing parties must pay to winning parties for the expenses of litigation).

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • recognizance — re·cog·ni·zance /ri käg nə zəns/ n [Anglo French recognisance reconisance, literally, recognition, from Old French reconoisance, from reconoistre to recognize, from Latin recognoscere] 1: an obligation entered into on the record before a court or …   Law dictionary

  • recognizance — re‧cog‧ni‧zance [rɪˈkɒgnɪzns ǁ ˈkɑːg ] also recognisance noun [countable] LAW a promise that someone makes in a court of law. If they do not keep this promise, they have to pay money to the court: • The two men were released on their own… …   Financial and business terms

  • Recognizance — Re*cog ni*zance (r[ e]*k[o^]g n[i^]*zans or r[ e]*k[o^]n [i^] ), n. [F. reconnaissance, OF. recognoissance, fr. recognoissant, p. pr. of recognoistre to recognize, F. reconna[^i]tre, fr. L. recognoscere; pref. re re + cognoscere to know. See… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • recognizance — late 14c., reconyssaunce, from O.Fr. reconissance acknowledgment, recognition (Fr. reconnaissance), from prp. stem of reconoistre (see RECOGNIZE (Cf. recognize)). Related: Recognizant …   Etymology dictionary

  • recognizance — (Amer.) re·cog·ni·zance || rɪ kÉ‘gnɪzÉ™ns /rɪ kÉ’g n. (Law, Finance) legal promise or obligation; formal agreement made by a person in court before a judge; money pledged as a bond (also recognisance) …   English contemporary dictionary

  • recognizance — [ri käg′ni zəns, rikän′izəns] n. [ME reconissance < OFr reconaissance < reconnoisant, prp. of reconoistre < L recognoscere, to recall to mind < re , again + cognoscere, to know: see COGNITION] 1. Law a) an obligation of record entered …   English World dictionary

  • Recognizance — In some common law nations, a recognizance is a conditional obligation undertaken by a person before a court. It is an obligation of record, entered into before a court or magistrate duly authorized, whereby the party bound acknowledges… …   Wikipedia

  • recognizance — n. (legal) on one s own recognizance (she was released on her own recognizance) * * * [rɪ kɒgnɪz(ə)ns] (legal) on one s own recognizance (she was released on her own recognizance) …   Combinatory dictionary

  • recognizance — /rskognazans/ An obligation entered into before a court or magistrate duly authorized for that purpose whereby the recognizer acknowledges that he will do some act required by law which is specified therein. The act of recognizing is performed by …   Black's law dictionary

  • recognizance — noun Etymology: Middle English recognissance, alteration of reconissaunce, from Anglo French, from reconoistre to recognize Date: 14th century 1. a. an obligation of record entered into before a court or magistrate requiring the performance of an …   New Collegiate Dictionary

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