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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| En bloc | In a block; as a unit, as a whole, completely. | a group | all together, as a whole, a group | General Terms, Court Reporting | |
| Encumbrance | Any claim or lien on real property, such as a mortgage or tax liens. Documents showing encumbrances are usually recorded in the local or county land records office. Also called incumbrance. | lien | burden, debt, lien | General Terms | |
| Endorse | To sign a document to authorize its contents or transfer. | sign | authorize, approve, confirm, sign | General Terms | |
| Endowment | Money or property given to an institution for a specific purpose. With money endowments, the income is usually from the interest generated. | donation | donation, grant, fund, gifting | General Terms | |
| Enforce | To take legal steps to make someone obey a judgment. | require | invoke, require | General Terms | |
| Enjoin | To require a person by order of the court to perform, to abstain or resist from some act. | order | order, command, decree, require | General Terms, News Reporter Guide, Court Reporting | |
| Entity | An organization possessing legal rights separate and distinct from the rights of its members (such as a partnership, or corporation). | person | person, partnership, organization or business | General Terms | |
| Entrap | Induce a person to commit a crime who otherwise would not commit one. | tempt | lure, tempt, trap | General Terms, Court Reporting | |
| Entrapment | The act of officers or agents of a government in inducing a person to commit a crime not contemplated by him or her for the purpose of instituting a criminal prosecution against that individual. | General Terms, News Reporter Guide | |||
| Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) | The federal agency that enforces federal laws that prohibit discrimination against a job applicant or employee because of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age (40 or older), disability or genetic information. | EEOC | General Terms | ||
| Equitable | Pertaining to civil suits in "equity" rather than in "law." In English legal history, the courts of "law" could order the payment of damages and could afford no other remedy. | fair | fair, impartial, unbiased, ethical | General Terms | |
| Equity | Branch of law dealing with just results, not strict rules. | General Terms, Court Reporting | |||
| ERPO | Red Flag Laws. Gun Violence Restraining Order. | Extreme Risk Protection Order | General Terms | ||
| Erratum (plural, errata) | Substantive errors found in a deposition or other document. | Errors | Errors | General Terms, Court Reporting | |
| Escheat | To fall out(back); reversion of property to the state because there are no legal heirs. | return property to the state | General Terms, Court Reporting | ||
| Escrow | A writing or deed delivered by the grantor into the hands of a third person, to be held by the latter until the happening of a contingency or performance of a condition. | General Terms, News Reporter Guide | |||
| Espionage | The act of spying on or monitoring the activities of a government or company in order to collect confidential information. | spying | spying, reconnaissance, shadowing, undercover work | General Terms | |
| Estate | An estate is the total property, real and personal, owned by a person before it is distributed in a will. | belongings | property, belongings, possessions | General Terms | |
| Estate planning | A process by which an individual (or family) arranges for the transfer of assets on death. The goal of an estate plan is to keep the maximum amount of wealth possible for the intended beneficiaries, as well as flexibility for the individual before death. | making a plan in advance | General Terms | ||
| Estoppel | A person's own act or acceptance of facts which preclude his or her later making claims to the contrary. | General Terms, News Reporter Guide | |||
| et ux. (et uxor) | And wife, joining a wife to a husband in contract or action. | and wife | General Terms, Court Reporting | ||
| et.seq. (et sequentes) | And the following; reference to further material immediately after a citation, particularly page enumerations | and the following | General Terms, Court Reporting | ||
| Evaluative Mediation | A style of mediation in which the mediator provides feedback and guidance to the parties based upon the mediator’s industry knowledge, jury verdict and settlement data, and previous experience with similar disputes. In other words, an evaluative mediator provides risk assessments to the parties based upon the mediator’s professional knowledge and experience, and engages in a dialogue with the parties as to each party’s best and worst case scenarios under both a litigated and mediated process. Some, but not all, evaluative mediators make predictions as to the likely outcome of a litigated dispute. Finally, evaluative mediators may propose terms of an agreement, i.e., a mediator’s proposal, as a means of avoiding impasse at mediation. | General Terms, Office of Dispute Resolution | |||
| Eviction | Making someone leave a building or land. The most common legal eviction is a court case in which the landlord asks a judge for an order to make a tenant leave. | removal | expulsion, removal from property, ejection, | General Terms | |
| Evidence | 1. Information presented to a court to prove key facts, including witness testimony, documents, photos, government records, videos, laboratory reports, etc. 2. proof, written, oral, or visual, presented to support allegations in a case. | proof | proof | General Terms, News Reporter Guide, Court Reporting | |
| Ex curia | Out of court. | Away from the court | out of court, away from the court, without litigation | General Terms, Court Reporting | |
| Ex delicto | From a crime; resulting from a crime, tort, malfeasance, or contractual duty. Consequences of a criminal action, by reason of a wrong. | resulting from a crime | General Terms, Court Reporting | ||
| Ex parte | A proceeding before a court with only one side present and without notification to the other side. By or for one party; done for, in behalf of, or on the application of one party only. | without all parties | General Terms, News Reporter Guide, Court Reporting | ||
| Ex Parte Custody Hearing §§ 43-250(4) & 43-247(3)(a) Neglect/Abuse and Mental Ill and Dangerous Juveniles | Any officer may take a juvenile into custody when (s)he has reason to believe the juvenile is: 1. § 43-248(3) seriously endangered in his or her surroundings and immediate removal appears to be necessary for the juvenile's protection. 2. § 43-248(4) mentally ill and dangerous and the harm is likely to occur before proceedings could be instituted. * The officer may deliver the juvenile to DHHS which shall place the juvenile in the least restrictive environment and which shall supervise placement and execute necessary consents. A court order placing the juvenile in custody of DHHS may expand the authority of the department. * The officer must provide a report of placement and reasons therefore, to the county attorney within 24 hours. * A court order or temporary custody must be entered within forty-eight (48) hours or temporary custody ends. § 43-250(4) * Either the judge or the clerk magistrate can issue temporary custody order. § 43-251 * State must seek an ex parte temporary detention order upon an affidavit of one having knowledge of relevant facts and made part of record, within forty-eight (48) hours of temporary placement, or placement will terminate. § 43-250 and re Interest of R.G., Neb 405, 470 N.W.2df 780 (1991) * The judge or clerk magistrate shall appoint a guardian ad litem (GAL) for the juvenile, if the juvenile is removed from the home. § 43-272.01(1) * Once a mentally ill or dangerous juvenile is placed out of home, an evaluation by a mental health professional must occur within thirty-six (36) hours and a report shall be provided to the county attorney (unless a very recent prior evaluation exists and has been provided to the county attorney).§ 43-254.01(1) * If the evaluation indicates that the harm is not likely to occur or that the juvenile is not mentally ill, the county attorney must within twenty-four (24) hours, proceed to hearing before the court, or release the juvenile § 43-254.01(2) * Adjudication (mentally ill and dangerous) shall be scheduled within seven days, continuance to permit the juvenile to obtain voluntary treatment are to be liberally granted. § 43-254.01(3) |
General Terms, Juvenile | |||
| Ex Parte Order | An order made by the court upon the application of one party without notice to the other, usually for temporary or emergency relief. (Black's Law Dictionary, 8th Ed.) | order made without notice to parties | General Terms, Domestic Relations | ||
| Ex post facto | After the fact; an act performed or law passed with retroactive effect. | retroactive | after the fact, retroactive | General Terms, Court Reporting | |
| Examination | Questions posed to a witness. | questioning | interrogation, inspection, questioning | General Terms, Court Reporting | |
| Exception | To "take exception" can mean to disagree with a court's decision or ruling. | object | disagree, object | General Terms | |
| Exchange | The act of making a trade or barter. | trade | trade, deal, change, swap, switch | General Terms | |
| Exclusionary rule | Doctrine that says evidence obtained in violation of a criminal defendant's constitutional or statutory rights is not admissible at trial. | inadmissible | General Terms | ||
| Exculpate | To release from accusation or blame, for example, a defense lawyer will attempt to exculpate his/her client. | clear | absolve, exonerate, forgive, acquit, clear | General Terms | |
| Exculpatory clause | Provision or clause which excuses someone from responsibility. | relieve of liability | General Terms | ||
| Exculpatory evidence | Evidence indicating that a defendant did not commit the crime. | evidence to support innocence | General Terms | ||
| Excusable | Applicable to the result of a lawful act when no hurt was intended or from an act of self-defense. | justified | General Terms | ||
| Execute | Sign, complete, perform. | sign | General Terms, Court Reporting | ||
| Executed on | Signed on [a date]. | signed on | General Terms | ||
| Execution | An order by the court directing the sheriff to seize the judgment debtor's property, sell it and apply the money to the judgment against the debtor. | Carry out | sheriff's sale, carry out, perform, complete as required | General Terms, Small Claims, District Court Civil, County Court Civil | |
| Executive order | A declaration by the president or a governor that has the force of law, usually based on existing statutory powers, independent of any action by the Congress or state legislature. | General Terms | |||
| Executor | The person named in a will to handle the property of someone who has died. The executor collects the property, pays the deceased person's debts and taxes, then distributes the property as stated in the will. Person in charge of giving away a person's property after they die | administrator | administrator, trustee , Personal representative | General Terms | |
| Exemplification | The person in charge of the records certifies that the copy is accurate. | certifies a copy | General Terms | ||
| Exhibit | A paper, document or other article produced and exhibited to a court during a trial or hearing. | evidence | General Terms, News Reporter Guide, District Court Civil, County Court Civil, Court Reporting | ||
| Exonerate | To release from liability or responsibility. A defendant who is found not guilty of a crime is said to be exonerated. A person may be exonerated from paying a debt. Property may be exonerated from a lien against it. | relieve of liability | excuse, absolve, acquit, dismiss | General Terms | |
| Expectancy | The possibility of future ownership, usually referring to real property or the estate of a deceased person. | belief | belief, likelihood, presumption, possibility | General Terms | |
| Expedite | Hasten, speed up. | rush | accelerate, hasten, quicken, rush | General Terms | |
| Expedited Family Group Conference (EFGC) | A research-based, family-centered process with three phases: information sharing, private family time, and plan presentation for approval, with the goal of addressing immediate placement issues for a juvenile. Meeting of family and professionals to determine permanent care for a child. | General Terms, Office of Dispute Resolution |