BALANCE, com. law. The amount which remains due by one of two persons, who have been dealing together, to the other, after the settlement of their accounts.
2. In the case of mutual debts, the balance only can be recovered by the assignee of an insolvent, or the executor of a deceased person. But this mutuality must have existed at the time of the assignment by the insolvent, or at the death of the testator.
3. The term general balance is sometimes used to signify the difference which is due to a party claiming a lien on goods in his hands, for work or labor done, or money expended in relation to those and other goods of the debtor. 3 B. & P. 485; 3 Esp. R. 268.

A Law Dictionary, Adapted to the Constitution and Laws of the United States. By John Bouvier. Published 1856.

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References in periodicals archive

At the same time, the FASB has indicated that properties currently held by corporations under synthetic leases will have to "go on balance sheet" by March 15, 2003, if other arrangements aren't made to keep them "off balance sheet" in a manner consistent with the new rules.

Synthetic leases under fire: corporations seek alternatives. (Financial Management)

When you hear "Hike," try to push your partner off balance. You can only touch palm to palm -- no rough stuff allowed.

Move that mass!

Some of these agencies, after reviewing traditional financial information, often raise questions about off balance sheet assets and liabilities such as debt guarantees of unconsolidated subsidiaries, unfunded pension liabilities, and retiree health benefits.

Search for better numbers continues

* You've allowed yourself to be knocked off balance.

The minds of a medical director

"You walk up to someone and say, 'When did you get pregnant?' You will have somebody off balance after that particular line."

The Killer Pick-Up

'His service games always felt like I was keeping him off balance

TENNIS:: Henman wary of Hrbaty threat

After two busy opening rounds Jones was in complete control, but was caught off balance in his own corner and sat back onto the canvas.

Boxing: Jones targets champ Moore

The change in the physical location of the batter after three pitches often tends to throw the pitcher off balance, create confusion, disrupt his rhythm, and have a different effect on his pitches.

Baseball diamond #2: switch batter's boxes

The wager was that our "decade-ist" conceit--"The '80s," the cliche writ large--would put everyone off balance, but hopefully to a less disabling degree than was the case with our sidelined author.

Editor's note

Amy Anderson was in the surf a few yards from the shoreline at Nickel Plate Beach along Ohio's Lake Erie shore when a wave knocked her off balance and the strong current quickly pulled her under.

World: United States

(A synthetic lease is a form of off balance sheet financing relying on the company's corporate credit to guarantee financing of the transaction.)

Corporate decision-making slows with shaky economy

Balance