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:
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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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Expert evidence | Testimony given in relation to some scientific, technical or professional matter by experts? i.e., persons qualified to speak authoritatively by reason of their special training, skill or familiarity with the subject. | testimony by an expert | General Terms, News Reporter Guide, Court Reporting | ||
| Expert testimony | An opinion given at or for a trial or deposition by an expert witness about a topic relevant to the case. | General Terms | |||
| Expert witness | 1. A person who is a specialist in a subject who is asked to give an opinion for or at a trial or deposition. Expert witnesses are paid for their services. 2. one having special expertise which may assist a Court, but who is not connected with the case. | specialist | General Terms, Court Reporting | ||
| Express | Directly stated or communicated, usually in a contract. | say | assert, communicate, convey, declare, say | General Terms | |
| Express warranty | 1. A guarantee about the quality of goods or services made by a seller usually from the manufacturer or provider. 2. A promise made by a contracting party. | guarantee | Guarantee | General Terms | |
| Extension | Allowing a specific amount of extra time to make a payment, file a legal document, or continue a lease after the original expiration of the term. | postponement | continuation, delay, postponement | General Terms | |
| Extortion | Obtaining money or property from someone by threatening property or loved ones. Extortion is a felony in all states. Blackmail is a form of extortion, but differs in that the blackmailer threatens to expose embarrassing and damaging information. | blackmail | blackmail, coercion, fraud, cheating | General Terms | |
| Extradition | Bring someone in custody from one jurisdiction to another, as from one state to another state of Nebraska. The surrender by one state to another of an individual accused or convicted of an offense outside its own territory and within the territorial jurisdiction. | transfer from one place to another | General Terms, News Reporter Guide, Court Reporting | ||
| Extrinsic evidence | Evidence related to a contract, but not contained in the actual contract document, for example, specific facts related to the negotiations of the contract. This evidence is not admissible unless there is an ambiguity in the contract. "Outside" information related to a contract. | evidence not in the contract | General Terms | ||
| Eyewitness | A person who has actually seen or observed an event. | observer | observer, viewer, witness | General Terms | |
| F.2d | second set of published federal appellate decisions; the federal reporter series of volumes. | The second set of federal appellate court decisions in a series | General Terms, Court Reporting | ||
| F.3d | third set of published federal appellate decisions; the federal reporter series of volumes. | The third set of federal appellate court decisions in a series | General Terms, Court Reporting | ||
| Face amount | The original amount due on a promissory note or insurance policy as stated in the document, without interest. | stated value | Value, worth, stated value | General Terms | |
| Facilitation | A process whereby a neutral third party assists a groups of individuals/parties with goal setting, information gathering, and decision-making around potentially controversial issues. | make easier | Support/Assist, helping, make easier | General Terms, Office of Dispute Resolution | |
| Facilitative Mediation | A structured process to assist parties in identifying issues and interests (underlying needs) that help move parties off their initial positions. This is accomplished through questions, active listening, reframing, summarizing, and other facilitative skills that can move the parties toward collaboration and creative problem-solving. In a facilitative mediation, parties are generally in joint session and caucus or separate meetings are used as a tool, as needed. | General Terms, Office of Dispute Resolution | |||
| Fact | An actual thing or happening that must be proved at trial. | truth, reality | something that has to be proven, verifiable truth, reality | General Terms | |
| Fair housing organizations | Government organizations that help renters solve housing discrimination problems. | General Terms | |||
| Fair market value | The amount for which an item can be sold on the open market by a willing seller to a willing buyer. | value determined by the marketplace | General Terms | ||
| False imprisonment | Intentionally detaining another person without the right to do so. Illegal detention, illegally kept in jail. | unlawfully kept in jail | Illegal detention, illegally kept in jail. | General Terms | |
| False pretenses | Untrue statements made for the purpose of obtaining money or property fraudulently. | lie to take property | General Terms | ||
| Family court | A court that takes cases involving family law, such as child custody. | General Terms | |||
| Family Group Conferencing (FGC) | A research-based family-centered process with three phases: information sharing, private family time, and plan presentation for approval. The goal is to address the essential issues of safety, permanency, and well-being of the child. | General Terms, Office of Dispute Resolution | |||
| Family law | An area of law dealing with family relations including divorce, adoption, paternity, custody, and support. | General Terms | |||
| Family/Household members | Spouses or former spouses, children of persons who are presently residing or have resided together in the past; persons who have a child in common; other persons related by consanguinity or affinity; and persons presently involved in a dating relationship, or were involved in a dating relationship in the past. (§ 42-903(3)) |
Domestic Relations, General Terms | |||
| Federal common law | Case law developed in the federal courts. | General Terms | |||
| Federal courts | A branch of the U.S. government (the judiciary), there are 3 levels of federal courts: the U.S. Supreme Court, which is highest court in the nation, the U.S. courts of appeals, and U.S. district courts. | General Terms | |||
| Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN) | A 9-digit tax identification number assigned to all employers by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). | business tax I.D. number | General Terms | ||
| Federal public defender | A lawyer who works for the federal courts on a full-time basis to provide legal defense to defendants who are unable to afford an attorney. | General Terms | |||
| Federal public defender organization | As provided for in the Criminal Justice Act, an organization established within a federal judicial circuit to represent criminal defendants who cannot afford an adequate defense. A group of lawyers that represent people charged with a federal crime who can not pay for a lawyer. | General Terms | |||
| Federal question | Cases or issues which involve constitutional or federal law. | General Terms, Court Reporting | |||
| Federal-question jurisdiction | 1. The subject-matter jurisdiction of the U.S. federal courts in civil cases because of violation of the U.S. Constitution, federal law, or treaty involving the U.S. 2. Jurisdiction given to federal courts in cases involving the interpretation and application of the U.S. Constitution, acts of Congress, and treaties. | General Terms | |||
| Fee (in) | Ownership of land, sometimes conditional ownership. Interest in the ownership of land, both full and conditional. | ownership of land | General Terms | ||
| Fee simple absolute | Ownership of land that is inheritable and mortgageable without limitation. | complete ownership of land | General Terms | ||
| Fee simple on condition subsequent | Ownership of land that may be terminated and taken over by the grantor (defeasible) upon the occurrence of a certain event. | conditional ownership of land | General Terms | ||
| Felon | A person who has been convicted of a felony, which is a serious crime. | General Terms | |||
| Felonious | Relating to a felony. Done with the intent to commit a felony. | criminal | General Terms | ||
| Felonious assault | Assault that is classified as a felony and involves the infliction of serious bodily injury with a dangerous weapon. Attacking someone with a dangerous weapon causing serious harm. | assault with a weapon | General Terms | ||
| Felony | A crime of a graver nature than a misdemeanor? generally, an offense punishable by death or imprisonment in a penitentiary? in Nebraska, Class I through Class IV. | serious crime | General Terms, News Reporter Guide, Court Reporting | ||
| Felony murder | A murder that occurs during the time that another serious felony is committed. | General Terms | |||
| Fictitious defendants | Names given to defendants at the beginning of a lawsuit when their names are unknown such as Doe I and Doe II. | General Terms | |||
| Fictitious name | A fictitious name is the name a company uses to do businesses. Also called, dba or doing business as. | doing business as (DBA) | General Terms | ||
| Fiduciary | A person or company that has the power and obligation to act in the best interests of another in situations that require total trust, good faith, and honesty. Fiduciaries can include trustees, business advisers, attorneys, guardians, administrators of estates, real estate agents, bankers, stock brokers, title companies, or anyone who undertakes to assist someone who places complete confidence and trust in that person or company. | financial person | Trustee, financial person | General Terms, Guardian and Conservator, Estates, News Reporter Guide, Court Reporting | |
| Fiduciary duty | A duty, such as for an agent or trustee, to act with loyalty and honesty and in the best interests of the beneficiary of the fiduciary relationship. | to act with honesty | General Terms | ||
| Fiduciary relationship | A relationship in which a person trusts and relies on another person who has a duty to act in the best interests of the other. | General Terms | |||
| Fieri Facias, FiFa | Latin phrase that refers to a writ of execution which directs a state specified officer, usually a sheriff, to take control of a piece of property and sell it in order to satisfy the owner's debt or tax obligations. | order to seize property | General Terms | ||
| Filing fee | A fee charged by a court or other public office to process a document. | cost | General Terms | ||
| Final beneficiary | The person or institution designated to receive trust property when a life beneficiary dies. For example, Jim creates a trust through which his wife Jane receives income for the duration of her life. Their daughter, the final beneficiary, receives the trust principal after Jane's death. | last beneficiary | General Terms | ||
| Final decree | A final judgment in a court case. | final order | General Terms | ||
| Final judgment | The final determination of a court case. | final order | General Terms | ||
| Final settlement | An agreement reached by the people or entities involved in a lawsuit. It is usually in writing or read into the record in court and settles all issues of the lawsuit. | final agreement | General Terms |