positive prescription in Scots law, a period of time that fortifies a defective title. Thus, a person who obtains land from a person who does not own it but has a title that on the face of it is valid and is able to include the property in question will obtain a valid title in ten years if it is possessed openly and peaceably and without interrup- tion. See negative prescription.

In English law, title to land may be acquired by ADVERSE POSSESSION, the relevant period being 12 years. Where the land is subject to the Land Registration Acts, adverse possession for the requisite period confers on the squatter a POSSESSORY TITLE. This may mature into an ABSOLUTE TITLE after a further ten years.

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• loss adjuster
• losses in partnership
• loss relief
• lost modern grant
• lump sum order
• Maastricht Treaty
• magistrate
• Magna Carta
• maills and duties
• maintenance
• maintenance and champerty
• maintenance assessment
• majority
• majority verdict
• maladministration
• mala fides
• malice aforethought
• malicious injuries legislation
• malicious mischief
• malicious prosecution
• malingerer
• man
• management committee
• managing director
• mandamus