Glossary
This glossary may be used to find the definitions of many legal terms.
In many instances, there are synonyms and plain language options provided for the terms.
You may search within this glossary:
- by entering a term in the “Keyword Search” field.
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A combination of these search options can be used to provide a more defined result.
Note that this glossary may not contain all legal terms.
| Term | Definition | Plain Language | Synonyms | Type | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abandoned property | Property left behind by a tenant on purpose and it appears that the former owner (or tenant) does not intend to come back for the property. | deserted property | deserted, given up, left behind | General Terms | |
| Abandonment | 1. When a parent leaves a child without enough care, supervision, support, or parental contact for too long. 2. Leaving a marriage without planning to return, which is grounds for divorce in many states. | deserted | desertion, departure, leave behind | General Terms | |
| Abatement | A reduction in the amount owed for a specified period of time. Can be for support, rent, etc. | lower amount due | decrease, discount, reduction, reduce (rent), lower amount due | General Terms | |
| Abduction | Taking someone away by force or through deception; taking a child away without permission. | kidnapping | kidnapping, taking away | General Terms | |
| Abet | To help someone commit or plan a crime, including helping a criminal escape from the authorities. | help | back, support, urge, help, aid | General Terms | |
| Abrogate | To repeal or cancel an old law using another law or constitutional power. | cancel | cancel, end, void, repeal, rescind, revoke, supersede | General Terms | |
| Absolute disparity | A calculation used to claim that a jury pool did not fairly represent the demographics of the community. For example, if 51% of the community is Hispanic, and 10% of the jury is Hispanic, the absolute disparity would be 41%. | complete lack of equality in the jury | General Terms | ||
| Abstract | A summary of what a court or government agency does. | summary | summary, synopsis, short explanation | General Terms | |
| Abstract of judgment | Summary or short explanation of the court's final decision. This includes how much money either person owes or any specific orders from the judge. This can be used to create a lien if you file it with the county recorder. | General Terms | |||
| Abstract of record | A complete history in short; abbreviated form of the case as found in the record. Short explanation of the details of a case. | General Terms, News Reporter Guide, Court Reporting | |||
| Abstract of title | A summary of ownership of a piece of real property that also includes related debts, such as mortgages, property taxes, or liens. A property's complete legal history. | history of ownership | General Terms | ||
| Abuse of discretion | A higher court may overturn a lower court's decision if it finds that its decision was entirely incorrect, illegal, or made without supporting evidence. | over-reaching | over-reaching, not justified by the evidence. | General Terms | |
| Abuse/Neglect violations | § 43-247(3)(a)-Abandoned, abused, homeless/destitute/without support, neglected. § 43-247(3)(c)-Mentally ill and dangerous. |
General Terms, Juvenile | |||
| Abusive discharge | When the dismissal of an employee, who has not violated any law or term of his/her employment contract, is considered a violation of anti-discrimination laws. | unfairly fired | fired without cause | General Terms | |
| Access (disability) | The ability of people with disabilities to: enter and move around buildings, and enjoy equal access to transportation, employment, communication in the workplace, housing, etc. | General Terms | |||
| Accessory | A person who helps someone else commit a crime before or after the crime, but is not usually at the scene of the crime. | partner | aide, accomplice, assistant, helper, participant | General Terms | |
| Accomplice | A person that helps someone else commit a crime. Can be on purpose or not. | partner | aide, ally, partner, participant, helper, assistant | General Terms | |
| Accrual | The increase over time of the amount of something, usually money. Example: Due to the accrual of missed child support payments, they now owe $10,000. | buildup | buildup, increase, accumulation | General Terms | |
| Accused | The person that is charged with a crime and has to go to criminal court. | defendant | person charged with, defendant | General Terms | |
| Acknowledge | To say, swear, or affirm to a notary public, clerk, or other officer that a document with your signature was in fact signed by you. | swear | accept, agree, swear | General Terms | |
| Acknowledged father | A child's biological father who is not married to the mother, but has signed a voluntary declaration of paternity or an agreement with the mother, or has said he is the father. An acknowledged father has parental rights and a duty to support the child. | General Terms | |||
| Acknowledgment | Saying, testifying, or assuring that something is true. You can say this out loud or write it down. | sworn to | agreement, admitting, sworn to | General Terms | |
| Acknowledgment of satisfaction of judgment | A court form that the judgment creditor must fill out, sign, and file with the court when the judgment is fully paid. If no liens exist, the back of the Notice of Entry of Judgment can be signed and filed with the court. | General Terms | |||
| Acquit | To find a defendant not guilty in a criminal trial. | find not guilty | find not guilty, clear, absolve | General Terms, News Reporter Guide, Court Reporting | |
| Acquittal | When a judge or jury finds that the person on trial is not guilty. | verdict of not-guilty | clearance, discharge, verdict of not-guilty | General Terms | |
| Act of God | An earthquake, tornado, or other unexpected and extraordinary natural event, or the sudden death of a person that serves as a defense or valid excuse for not providing a service or performing a duty, something that happens that cannot be controlled. | natural disaster | natural disaster, unexpected death | General Terms | |
| Action | 1. Lawsuit, case. 2. In court, when one person sues someone else to (a) defend or enforce a right, (b) stop something bad from happening or fix something, or (c) punish them for a crime. | lawsuit | case, lawsuit, claim, court proceeding, legal proceeding, trial | General Terms, Court Reporting | |
| Actionable | A situation with enough supporting facts to meet the requirements to file a legitimate lawsuit. | triable, chargeable, litigious, suable | General Terms | ||
| Active status | A case that is in court but has not been decided or settled yet. | not decided | ongoing, in process, not decided | General Terms | |
| Actual damages | Money awarded by the court to compensate a party for loss or injury. Amount awarded equal to the loss a party suffered. | award | award, payment | General Terms | |
| Ad damnum | Damages claimed in a civil lawsuit. | amount claimed | General Terms | ||
| Ad infinitum | To infinity; without limit, indefinitely. | endlessly | to infinity, endlessly, indefinitely | General Terms, Court Reporting | |
| Ad litem | To the suit; for the purposed of a lawsuit, pending a lawsuit. Example: A guardian ad litem is appointed to act on behalf of a proposed incompetent person or a minor. | for this case | for this case | General Terms, Court Reporting | |
| Ad nauseam | To nausea; describes something that's been repeated or discussed so long that you're sick of hearing about it. | repeatedly | more than one can stomach, boringly, too much, over and over again, repeatedly | General Terms, Court Reporting | |
| Ad testificandum | For testifying; subpoena to appear in court and testify. | for testifying | General Terms, Court Reporting | ||
| Addendum | A document attached to another document(s) to provide more information. | attachment | addition, attachment | General Terms | |
| Adduce | To offer or put forward for consideration as evidence or authority. | introduce | prove, show, point out, introduce, bring forth | General Terms, Domestic Relations | |
| Adjourn | To temporarily end or delay a meeting, gathering or court appearance. | postpone | delay, postpone, recess, continue, defer | General Terms | |
| Adjournment | To put off a court hearing until another time or place. | postponement | recess, break, pause | General Terms | |
| Adjudicate | When a judge hears and decides a case. | rule, decide | decide, determine, settle, conclude, give judgment, rule | General Terms | |
| Adjudicate/Adjudged/Adjudication | Specifically, the finding of the court that a juvenile is within the jurisdiction of the court for an act(s) defined in § 43-247; also used as the title of the hearing where facts are presented to the court for determination of whether the juvenile falls within the jurisdiction of the juvenile court (in effect, a trial). To give judgment; to render or award judgment. Decided. Determined by the judgment of the court. The determination of the issues in a court proceeding similar to a trial to which judgment is rendered by the court. |
rule, decide/ ruling, decision | decide, determine, settle, conclude, give judgment, rule/ decision, verdict, ruling, judgment | General Terms, Juvenile | |
| Adjudication | The judge's decision in a case or action. | ruling, decision | decision, verdict, ruling, judgment | General Terms | |
| Adjudication Hearing | In some courts, the term also encompasses the proceedings where the juvenile or parents admit or deny the allegations in the petition but no finding is made (in effect, an arraignment). | General Terms, Juvenile | |||
| Administrator | A person appointed by a probate court to distribute the property of someone who died without a will, or with a will that did not name anyone for this task. | overseer | manager, overseer | General Terms | |
| Admissible | A term used to describe evidence that may be considered by a jury or judge in civil and criminal cases. | allowed | allowed, acceptable, suitable | General Terms | |
| Admissible evidence | Evidence that the judge can legally allow to be used in court. | legally allowed evidence | General Terms | ||
| Admission | Saying that certain facts are true. | admit, confirm | admittance, confirmation, acknowledgment, confession | General Terms | |
| Admonish | To warn, advise, or scold. | scold | warn, scold, reprimand | General Terms | |
| Admonition to jury | What the judge says to the jury about: 1. what they must do and how they must behave, 2. what evidence they can use to make a decision (called "admissible" evidence), and (3) how they can use that evidence to make a decision. | jury instructions | advice, instruction | General Terms | |
| Adopt | To become the legal parent to another person's child. | General Terms |