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.
- by choosing a “Type” from the drop-down list such as “Estate” or “Small Claims.”
- by choosing the beginning letter in the “Filter by Letter” drop-down list to display only the terms that start with that letter.
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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Divorce agreement | An agreement made by the divorcing spouses about how they will divide their property, parenting time, child support, and alimony. This type of agreement is usually signed by the spouses, filed at court, and signed by a judge. | settlement of issues | stipulation | General Terms | |
| Docket | A list of cases to be tried by a court. | schedule | list of cases, calendar, schedule | General Terms, News Reporter Guide, Court Reporting | |
| Docket number | identifying number assigned when case is filed with court. | case number | case number | General Terms, Court Reporting | |
| Documentary evidence | Information on paper or electronic format that is offered as evidence at court. | evidence on paper or recording | General Terms | ||
| Documents speaks for itself | the actual contents of documents which require no special interpretation. | self-explanatory | General Terms, Court Reporting | ||
| DOJ | An abbreviation for the U.S. Department of Justice. | General Terms | |||
| DOL | An abbreviation for the U.S. Department of Labor. | General Terms | |||
| Domain name | A series of letters and numbers that identifies a specific computer or website. A domain name has 2 parts: 1. A generic "top-level" domain (.edu, .com, .gov) that identifies the type of organization 2. A second level domain (cdc, gmail, yahoo) that identifies the organization, site, or individual. Note: "www" is not part of the actual domain name. It signifies that the page can be accessed using a Web browser. | website URL address | General Terms | ||
| Domestic abuse | Abuse between family or household members includes spouses or former spouses, children, persons who are presently residing together or who have resided together in the past, persons who have a child in common whether or not they have been married or have lived together at any time, other persons related by blood or relations, and persons who are presently involved in a dating relationship with each other or who have been involved in a dating relationship with each other. For purposes of the subdivision, dating relationship means frequent, intimate associations primarily characterized by the expectation of affectional or sexual involvement, but does not include a casual relationship or an ordinary association between persons in a business or social context. It includes attempting or intentionally and knowingly causing bodily injury, placing another person in fear of imminent bodily injury or by engaging in sexual contact or sexual penetration without consent. (§ 42-903(1)(a)(b)(c)) |
domestic violence | Domestic violence, abuse | Domestic Relations, General Terms | |
| Domestic partners | A relationship between two people who live together but are not married to each other. A domestic partnership may not confer the same rights and responsibilities as a marriage in some states. | committed intimate relationship | General Terms | ||
| Domestic relations | Proceedings involving marriage dissolution, separation, annulment, custody, visitation, child support and medical support; paternity determinations; domestic abuse protection orders; harassment protection orders. (§ 25-2740) |
family law | Court Reporting, Domestic Relations, General Terms, News Reporter Guide | ||
| Domestic violence | Abuse or threats of abuse between two people who have or had an intimate relationship (married, domestic partners, dating or used to date, live or lived together, or have a child together). | domestic abuse | General Terms | ||
| Domicile | The place where a person has his or her true and permanent home; a person may have several residences, but only one domicile. The place at which a person regards as home; even though current residence may be elsewhere. | home | Home, permanent home, legal residence | General Terms, Guardian and Conservator, Estates, News Reporter Guide, Court Reporting | |
| Dominant tenement | Property that includes a right to use part of a neighboring property, called an easement. For example, property that includes access to a beach trail on another property is the dominant tenement. | easement | Dominant estate, easement | General Terms | |
| Donate | To give without expectation of compensation. | give | give, grant, hand out | General Terms | |
| Donation | The IRS allows you to take an income tax deduction for the value of donations made to charitable organizations that are recognized as such by the IRS. | gift | charitable contribution, gift | General Terms | |
| Donative intent | A conscious desire to make a gift, unlike making a gift by mistake or under pressure. | voluntary | freely, intentional | General Terms | |
| Donee | Someone who receives a gift. | receiver | Recipient, payee, receiver | General Terms | |
| Donor | Someone who makes a gift. | giver of gift | Benefactor, contributor, giver of gift | General Terms | |
| Double jeopardy | More than one prosecution for the same crime, transaction or omission. | General Terms, News Reporter Guide, Court Reporting | |||
| Down payment | An amount of cash paid by a buyer, typically for the purchase of something expensive, such as a car or house. The remaining balance would be on a loan. | General Terms | |||
| Draw (document) | To write or prepare any legal document. | write | Draft, prepare, write | General Terms | |
| Draw (profits) | A withdrawal of profits from a partnership by a partner. | withdraw | General Terms | ||
| Drawee | The payee on a bill of exchange or check. | bank | bank, credit union, savings and loan association | General Terms | |
| Drawer | The person who signs a bill of exchange or check. | orders payment | orders payment | General Terms | |
| Duces tecum | Bring with you; subpoena to bring items of evidence, such as documents. | bring with you | General Terms, Court Reporting | ||
| Due diligence | Care or attention to a matter that is considered enough to avoid a claim of negligence. | carefully check | carefully , verify facts, check | General Terms | |
| Due process | In criminal law, the constitutional guarantee that a defendant will receive a fair and impartial trial. In civil law, the legal rights of someone who confronts an adverse action threatening liberty or property. | fair trial or hearing | fair access to justice under the law | General Terms, News Reporter Guide, Court Reporting | |
| Duration | Period of time. | length of time | Period, span, length of action | General Terms | |
| Duress | The use of force, pressure, threats, or other way of getting someone to do something despite refusal of the recipient. If, for example, duress is used to make a person sign an agreement or a will, a court may invalidate that document. | threat | coercion, pressure, threat, hardship | General Terms | |
| Duty | A legal relationship based on a contract or law. | commitment | commitment, obligation | General Terms | |
| DWI | Driving while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs. | drunk driving | Driving While Intoxicated, DUI | General Terms, News Reporter Guide, Court Reporting | |
| Dying declaration | A statement made by a person who believes death is imminent that explains the death. Even though it is hearsay, it can be accepted as evidence. | last words | General Terms | ||
| Dynamite charge | A judge's instruction to a deadlocked jury to continue deliberating until it reaches a verdict. Also called Allen charge, nitroglycerine charge, shotgun charge, and third-degree instruction. | General Terms | |||
| e.g. (exempli gratia) | (always italicized) for example. | for example | for example | General Terms, Court Reporting | |
| Earned income | Money earned from work, such as wages, commissions, and tips. | pay | pay, wages | General Terms | |
| Earnings assignment | A transfer of part of an employee's paycheck to pay that employee's debt, such as child support. | garnishment | General Terms | ||
| Earnings record | A Social Security Administration record a of person's earnings, often used to calculate Social Security retirement income. | General Terms | |||
| Effective date | The starting date of an order, contract, or other obligation. | start date | General Terms | ||
| Election | Choice, selection. | choice | choice, selection | General Terms | |
| Emancipated minor | A child who is considered a legal adult and has the right to make their own legal decision. | General Terms | |||
| Emancipation | A legal way for children to become adults before they turn 18 (or 19 in some states). The parents of a child no longer have custody or control once that child is emancipated. | freedom | Independence, freedom, liberty | General Terms | |
| Embezzlement | Stealing funds or property of an employer, company, or government. Misappropriating money or assets held in trust. | theft | Fraud, misappropriation, stealing, theft, larceny | General Terms | |
| Emend | Change or correct to improve the quality of a document. | correct | Correct, change, edit | General Terms, Court Reporting | |
| Emergency Custody, Ex Parte, Injunction, TRO | Court order when only one side is present, usually in an emergency situation like emergency custody or domestic violence. | General Terms | |||
| Emergency Shelter | To be in temporary care for up to/no more 30 days. Occurs in a facility; facility is required to be licensed. | General Terms, Juvenile | |||
| Eminent domain | The lawful power to take private property for public use by the process of condemnation. | General Terms, News Reporter Guide, Court Reporting | |||
| Emotional distress | Suffering due to an experience that was caused by negligence or another person's intentional act. It can be the basis for a claim for damages in a lawsuit. | mental suffering | mental suffering, emotional reaction | General Terms | |
| Employment discrimination | Discrimination in the workplace or hiring process that is based on race, sex, religion, national origin, physical disability, or age by employers. | unfair treatment | bias, unfair treatment | General Terms | |
| En banc | "On the bench." All judges of a court sitting together to hear a case. | panel of judges | on the bench | General Terms, News Reporter Guide |