Legal Definitions - legal opinion

A legal opinion is a written document in which a lawyer provides their understanding of the law as applied to assumed facts. It can be given by a private attorney or an attorney representing the state or other governmental entity. Private attorneys frequently render legal opinions on the ownership of real estate or minerals, insurance coverage, and corporate transactions.

For example, a lawyer may provide a legal opinion on whether a particular event is covered by a given insurance policy. This is called a coverage opinion. Another example is a title opinion, which is a lawyer's or title company's opinion on the state of title for a given piece of real property, usually describing whether the title is clear and marketable or whether it is encumbered.

It is important to note that a party may be entitled to rely on a legal opinion, depending on factors such as the identity of the parties to whom the opinion was addressed, the nature of the opinion, and the law governing these opinions.