A
Accidental Death – Death as a result of violent bodily injuries that came from an external source.
Adoption – The legal process whereby you accept a child into your family.
Alimony – Payments of support made by one spouse to the other during a legal separation and after a divorce.
Assault –A physical or verbal attack that is aggressive and/or violent in nature.
B
Bankruptcy – A federal process by which you seek assistance if you are unable to pay your debts.
Business Law – A type of law that governs the way privately and publicly owned businesses operate.
Business Lawyer – A lawyer who practices in the area of business law.
C
Child Custody – The legal right to make decisions for the care of a child.
Child Support – Financial payments made to support a child in the event both parents are not married or living together.
Criminal Law – A type of law that deals with crimes and their respective penalties.
Criminal Lawyer – A lawyer who practices in the area of criminal law.
D
Divorce – The legal dissolution of a marriage between a husband and a wife.
Domestic Abuse – Aggressive verbal and nonverbal actions toward another person with the goal of gaining control over their actions and behaviors.
Domestic Violence – Abusive acts toward another in an attempt to control their behavior or intimidate them.
Drug Possession – One someone possesses illegal drugs either on their person or in their belongings.
DUI – Stands for driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
DWI – Stands for driving while intoxicated by drugs or alcohol.
E
Elder Abuse – The physical, mental or financial abuse of an elderly person.
Equity – The monetary value of a property or the right of ownership in a piece of property.
F
Family Law – A type of law that deals with divorce, child custody, paternity issues, child support and adoption.
Family Lawyer – A lawyer who facilitates with areas of family law including divorce, adoption, paternity issues and child custody.
Felony – A federal crime that carries a punishment of more than one year of jail time and possibly death.
Foreclosure – The legal proceedings initiated by a creditor so that monies can be collected on a defaulted loan.
Forgery – The act of imitating or changing a signature to a document with the intent to defraud.
Fraud – Any act, omission, expression or concealment with the intent of cheating one party to gain an advantage.
G
Grand Jury – A jury that is responsible for reviewing the accusations brought against an individual. If there is sufficient evidence then formal charges are made and the individual will be tried in court at a later date.
Guardian – One who has been legally selected to take physical care of someone else.
H
Habitual Offender – An individual who repeatedly violates the law.
Harassment – To consistently torment or bother another person via phone calls, uninvited conversation or emails.
I
Illegal – Something that is in violation of the law.
Injury – When an action or behavior harms another individual or causes them damage or loss.
J
Jurisdiction – The ability to explain and apply the law in a particular geographic area.
Jury – A group of people who are obligated to offer their decision on a specific matter brought before them.
K
Kidnap – To abduct someone by force with the objective of collecting money or to use as a hostage.
Kin – The members of a family.
L
Living Trust – A legal arrangement whereby one party maintains the legal title to property for another party.
Living Will – A legal document outlining instructions for either the continuance or ceasing of life support treatment if someone is in a coma or has a fatal illness.
M
Medical Malpractice – When someone is injured or killed due the negligence of a medical professional.
Misdemeanor – A crime that carries a punishment of less than one year of jail time and a fine.
N
Negligence – Failure to act or behave in a responsible and careful way that can result in injury or harm to another party.
Net Estate – The portion of an estate that will be distributed after necessary expenses and debt has been paid.
O
Obstruction of Justice – When an individual purposely intervenes with the justice process.
OSHA – Stands for Occupational Safety and Health Administration which writes and enforces health and safety standards for workplace environments.
P
Personal Injury – A physical or emotional injury to someone as the result of negligence on another’s part.
Personal Injury Lawyer – A lawyer who represents victims who have been injured due to the negligence of someone else.
Premarital Agreement – A legal document that outlines the assets and liabilities of a couple who are planning to get married.
Probate – The process of proving in a court that a will is legally sound.
Q
Quasi Contract – A legal obligation that hinders one party from unfairly gaining as a result of the actions of another party.
Quitclaim Deed – When one party relinquishes their rights to property that was once owned by himself and another party.
R
Real Estate – Land and all the fixed buildings and natural resources that are included.
Reckless Disregard – When an individual acts without regard to the safety or well being of another party.
S
Separation – When a married couple live apart from each other with the possibility of divorcing.
Slip And Fall – A kind of personal injury whereby someone slips and falls and sustains an injury.
Suicide – When someone purposely takes their own life.
T
TBI – Stands for traumatic brain injury which can result from an auto accident, slip and fall or a work-related accident and causes the brain to bleed, swell or bruise.
Theft – The act of taking property from someone without their consent.
Traffic Violations – Violations of the traffic laws including speeding, driving without a license and illegally parking.
U
Unconstitutional – An act that is in violation of the U.S. Constitution.
Unplanned Pregnancy – When a woman unintentionally gets pregnant.
V
Vacate – To annul a legal document and make it void.
Verdict – When a jury reaches a decision in complete agreement regarding the legal matters brought before them.
W
Will – A legal document outlining where assets and monies are to be distributed after someone is deceased.
Workers’ Compensation – A federal process designed to provide financial support to victims of work-related injuries.
Wrongful Death – Death caused by negligence or willful actions from another party.
X
X-ray – A test commonly administered to see whether an individual’s bones are broken. Commonly used if someone sustains a personal injury.
Y
Your Honor – A respectful way to address a court judge.
Youthful Offender – A young person, who is no longer considered to be a juvenile, who commits a crime.
Z
Zoning – The legal restriction placed on the way land can be used.
