compellable witness
A witness who may lawfully be required to give evidence and who may be punished for contempt of court for refusal. In principle every person who is competent to be a witness is compellable. In criminal proceedings, the spouse or civil partner of the accused is generally competent and compellable as a witness for the defence. However, the spouse or civil partner of the accused is not normally compellable as a witness for the prosecution. See competence.

• declaration of intention
• declaration of parentage
• declaration of trust
• declaratory judgment
• declaratory theory
• decompilation
• decree
• decree absolute
• decree nisi
• decree of presumption of death and dissolution of marriage
• deductions
• deed
• deed of arrangement
• deed of covenant
• deed of family arrangement
• deed of gift
• deed of variation
• deed poll
• deemed
• deemed domicile
• deep seabed area
• de facto
• de facto carers
• de facto director
• defamation