Also known as: accrues · accrued · accruing · accruer · accrual
Written by attorneys · grounded in primary & secondary sources — see below
2 senses
An event by which a legal right, claim, obligation, or interest comes into existence as an enforceable demand.
The periodic accumulation of amounts such as interest or income over time.
Each sense below has its own examples, sources, and questions.
An event by which a legal right, claim, obligation, or interest comes into existence as an enforceable demand.
Andrew Avery crossed a neighbor's vacant lot daily for the statutory period to reach a public road. The neighbor never objected. The benefit of the resulting prescriptive easement accrued solely to Avery as the adverse user.
Aaron Adams purchased land subject to a recorded covenant requiring annual maintenance contributions. After selling the parcel two years later, Adams was released from further liability. Only obligations that accrued while he held the burdened interest remained enforceable against him.
The periodic accumulation of amounts such as interest or income over time.
Audrey Ashton retained counsel to pursue a personal-injury claim under a written contingent-fee agreement. After settlement, counsel calculated the fee by applying the stated percentage to the recovery. The agreement specified that the percentage would accrue to the lawyer upon receipt of the settlement proceeds.
Alexandra Armstrong received salary payments and investment returns during her marriage after the determination date. Those amounts were deposited into a joint account. Under the governing statute the income earned or accrued by a spouse during marriage constitutes marital property.
A cause of action accrues when the right to sue comes into existence as an enforceable claim. Courts determine the precise moment by examining when the plaintiff knew or had reason to know of the injury and its cause.
A successor incurs liability only for obligations that accrue while the successor holds the burdened interest. Earlier-accrued obligations remain the responsibility of the prior owner.
Andre Antoine's warehouse was destroyed by a negligent fire. The court valued the building at the date of loss using established market prices. Interest on that amount began to accrue from the date of the loss until entry of judgment.
Abigail Alvarez received a foreclosure notice listing all expenses that had accrued before the notice date. She tendered the full amount of those expenses along with the other cure items required by statute. The tender stopped the foreclosure proceedings.
Income earned or accrued by a spouse during marriage after the determination date is marital property. The timing of accrual therefore determines whether the income is divided equally between the spouses.
…the means and opportunity of selling flour, sharps, and bran and were deprived of gains and profits which otherwise would have accrued, and were unable to employ their workmen, to whom they were compelled to pay wages during that period; they thus suffered damages to the amount claimed of £300. The defendants pleaded non…