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.
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Note that this glossary may not contain all legal terms.
| Term | Definition | Plain Language | Synonyms | Type | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Term Adoption | Definition The way to make the relationship between a parent and child legal when they are not related by blood. | Plain Language | Synonyms | Type General Terms | |
| Term Adoptive parent | Definition An adult who meets all the requirements to legally adopt a non-biological child, and who assumes all parental responsibilities for that child. | Plain Language | Synonyms | Type General Terms | |
| Term Adultery | Definition Sexual relations between a married person and another adult who is not that person's spouse. In some states, where fault grounds for divorce is allowed, adultery can impact how the divorcing couple's property is divided. | Plain Language having an affair | Synonyms affair, cheating | Type General Terms | |
| Term Advance directive | Definition A legal document that says what kinds of medical care you want if you become unable to speak for yourself and who you authorize to speak for you. | Plain Language living will | Synonyms living will, durable power of attorney | Type General Terms | |
| Term Adversary system | Definition The system of trial practice in the U.S. and some other countries in which each of the opposing, or adversary, parties has full opportunity to present and establish its opposing contentions before the court. Both the defense and prosecution get to present their sides. | Plain Language | Synonyms | Type General Terms, News Reporter Guide, Court Reporting | |
| Term Adverse witness | Definition Witness whose testimony is unfavorable to the party that called them. | Plain Language hostile witness | Synonyms conflicting, negative | Type General Terms, Court Reporting | |
| Term AFDC | Definition Aid to Families with Dependent Children. | Plain Language | Synonyms | Type General Terms | |
| Term Affiant | Definition Someone who signs an affidavit and affirms its truth to a notary public or person authorized to take oaths. | Plain Language testifier, signor | Synonyms testifier, person who signs a sworn statement | Type General Terms, Court Reporting | |
| Term Affidavit | Definition A voluntary declaration of facts written down and sworn to by the affiant before an officer authorized to administer oaths, such as a notary public. Usually in support of a motion or in response to a request of the court. | Plain Language sworn statement | Synonyms sworn statement | Type General Terms, Guardian and Conservator, Estates, News Reporter Guide, District Court Civil, County Court Civil, Court Reporting | |
| Term Affidavit of service | Definition Delivery confirmation or delivery receipt. | Plain Language | Synonyms Proof of Delivery of Court Papers | Type General Terms | |
| Term Affirm | Definition 1. Declare solemnly and formally, but not under oath; A witness's solemn formal promise to tell the truth during the testimony. 2. The assertion of an appellate court that the judgment of lower court is correct and should stand. | Plain Language swear | Synonyms confirm, certify, swear, agree or declare to be factual/true, profess, state with conviction; uphold, approve, endorse, sustain, verify, agree | Type General Terms, News Reporter Guide, Court Reporting | |
| Term Affirmation | Definition When an appellate court says that the lower court's decision was right. | Plain Language in agreement | Synonyms confirmation, in agreement | Type General Terms | |
| Term Affirmative action | Definition Policies intended to meet certain inclusion goals for members of historically disadvantaged groups in employment, contracting, educational, and other areas. | Plain Language fair treatment | Synonyms anti-discrimination, fair treatment | Type General Terms | |
| Term Affirmative defense | Definition When a defendant, or person responding to a civil case, introduces new information as a defense instead of just denying what the other person says. | Plain Language | Synonyms | Type General Terms | |
| Term Affirmed | Definition When the Court of Appeals has decided that a lower court decision is correct. | Plain Language upheld | Synonyms validated, upheld, agreed | Type General Terms | |
| Term Afford an opportunity | Definition Able, allow | Plain Language allow | Synonyms Allow | Type General Terms | |
| Term Aforementioned | Definition Mentioned before, said this already, indicated above. | Plain Language above | Synonyms prior, above, previous, preceding, above | Type General Terms | |
| Term Age discrimination | Definition Treating an employee or employment applicant who is at least 40 years old, less favorably or unfairly because of their age. | Plain Language | Synonyms | Type General Terms | |
| Term Agency | Definition The relationship of a person (called the agent) who acts on behalf of another person, company, or government (called the principal). | Plain Language | Synonyms legal authority, legal relationship | Type General Terms | |
| Term Agent | Definition Someone who is legally allowed to speak and act on behalf of another person. | Plain Language lawyer, assistant | Synonyms lawyer, attorney, advocate, delegate | Type General Terms | |
| Term Aggravate | Definition To make more serious or severe. | Plain Language worsen | Synonyms worsen, increase | Type General Terms | |
| Term Aggravated assault | Definition Physically attacking another person and causing serious bodily harm sometimes with a deadly or dangerous weapon. Hurt, insult, or provoke someone on purpose. | Plain Language Hurt on purpose | Synonyms | Type General Terms | |
| Term Aggravated circumstances | Definition The court may waive reasonable efforts to reunify if it finds aggravated circumstances. If reasonable efforts are waived, a separate reasonable efforts finding is not required. The regulations clarify that the court must waive reasonable efforts if a parent has been convicted of an enumerated felony. However, if criminal proceedings are pending or under appeal, the court has discretion to determine if it is reasonable to proceed with reunification. This decision is based on the child's developmental needs and the length of time before the criminal proceedings or appeal will be resolved. American Bar Association, National Child Welfare Resource Center on Legal Judicial Issues. | Plain Language | Synonyms | Type General Terms, Juvenile | |
| Term Aggravating circumstances | Definition considerations that increase (aggravate) a sentence imposed in criminal cases under sentencing guidelines. | Plain Language | Synonyms | Type General Terms, Court Reporting | |
| Term Agreement | Definition An understanding between 2 or more people about a particular issue, including their obligations, duties, and rights. | Plain Language settlement | Synonyms deal, compromise | Type General Terms | |
| Term Aleatory | Definition Depending on an uncertain event, such as when an insurance contract depends on a certain event, like a fire or earthquake. | Plain Language random | Synonyms random, unexpected | Type General Terms | |
| Term Alias | Definition A name used that is not the given name of a person (such as Harry for Harold, initials, or a maiden name, or an entirely different name). | Plain Language Also known as | Synonyms also known as, AKA, assumed name, other known names | Type General Terms | |
| Term Alibi | Definition A defense claim that the accused was somewhere else at the time a crime was committed. | Plain Language excuse | Synonyms explanation, proof, defense | Type General Terms | |
| Term Alibi witness | Definition A person who confirms a defendant's reason for not having been able to commit the crime s/he was accused of. | Plain Language proof of explanation | Synonyms | Type General Terms | |
| Term Alien | Definition Any person not a citizen of the U.S.. | Plain Language immigrant | Synonyms non-citizen, foreigner, immigrant, migrant | Type General Terms | |
| Term Alien registration number | Definition A 7-, 8- or 9-digit number assigned to a legal permanent residents by the Department of Homeland Security. | Plain Language | Synonyms | Type General Terms | |
| Term Alimony | Definition Money the court orders you to pay to a spouse or ex spouse. | Plain Language support | Synonyms spousal support | Type General Terms | |
| Term Allegation | Definition The assertion, declaration or statement of a party to a lawsuit often made in a pleading or legal document, setting out what the party expects to prove at the trial. | Plain Language charge, claim | Synonyms accusation, claim | Type General Terms, News Reporter Guide, Court Reporting | |
| Term Allege | Definition To say, declare, or charge that something is true even though it isn't proven yet. | Plain Language claim | Synonyms declare, testify, assert, claim | Type General Terms | |
| Term allege/allegation | Definition To state or assert something, especially by accusing somebody of wrongdoing without offering proof of it or with a view to proving it later. An assertion, especially relating to wrongdoing or misconduct on somebody's part; that has yet to be proved or supported by evidence. | Plain Language claim | Synonyms declare, testify, assert, claim | Type General Terms, Juvenile | |
| Term Allocution | Definition An unsworn statement from a convicted defendant to the sentencing judge or jury in which the defendant can ask for mercy, explain his or her conduct, apologize for the crime, or say anything else in an effort to lessen the impending sentence. | Plain Language talk to the court | Synonyms talk, lecture | Type General Terms, Domestic Relations | |
| Term Allot | Definition To assign or divide shared property among those entitled to have a part or portion. | Plain Language distribute | Synonyms assign, distribute, share | Type General Terms | |
| Term Alter | Definition To make different without changing into something else. | Plain Language modify | Synonyms Change, modify, transform, adjust, amend | Type General Terms | |
| Term Alter ego | Definition Other self; doctrine that a corporation may not be used as a sham to insulate shareholders from liability for their own private actions. | Plain Language other identity | Synonyms second self | Type General Terms, Court Reporting | |
| Term Alternate juror | Definition A juror selected in the same manner as a regular juror who hears all the evidence but does not help decide the case unless called on to replace a regular juror. | Plain Language replacement juror | Synonyms back-up juror | Type General Terms | |
| Term Alternative or Appropriate Dispute Resolution (ADR) | Definition A variety of practices and programs designed to settle disputes outside of the traditional adversarial process. May include conciliation, mediation, arbitration, and hybrid programs like problem solving courts. | Plain Language | Synonyms coming to an agreement outside of court | Type General Terms, Office of Dispute Resolution | |
| Term Ambiguity | Definition Can refer to language in an agreement that has more than one meaning. | Plain Language confused meaning | Synonyms vagueness, unclearness, double meaning, confused meaning, uncertainty, doubt | Type General Terms | |
| Term Amend | Definition To add to or change a claim that has been filed in court. | Plain Language change after filing | Synonyms modify, change, fix | Type General Terms | |
| Term Amended complaint | Definition An updated complaint, petition, or pleading that is filed to correct facts, add new claims, or change some other part of the original complaint. | Plain Language changed after filing | Synonyms revised accusations | Type General Terms | |
| Term Amendment | Definition 1. Change or correction, whether beneficial or not, whether an addition or a subtraction. 2. A change or addition to a legal or statutory document. | Plain Language correction, addition | Synonyms attachment, revision, change | Type General Terms, District Court Civil, County Court Civil, Court Reporting | |
| Term Amicus curiae | Definition Someone that gives advice to the court about the law in a case, but isn't part of the case. Comes from the Latin for "friend of the court." | Plain Language friend of the court | Synonyms adviser to the court, friend in court | Type General Terms, News Reporter Guide, Court Reporting | |
| Term Amnesty | Definition Forgiveness given to a group of individuals by the government, usually before a trial. | Plain Language forgiveness | Synonyms forgiveness, immunity | Type General Terms | |
| Term Ancillary administration | Definition An administration that is auxiliary to the administration at the place of the decedent's domicile, such as one in another state. | Plain Language | Synonyms additional personal representative for property in another state | Type General Terms, Guardian and Conservator, Estates | |
| Term Ancillary jurisdiction | Definition In certain situations, a federal court can decide issues that are not normally under its jurisdiction. | Plain Language | Synonyms additional authority | Type General Terms | |
| Term Annuitant | Definition A person who receives benefits from a pension or annuity. | Plain Language receiver | Synonyms payee, receiver, beneficiary | Type General Terms |