CourtHelp Legal Glossary

An attorney given to a person by the court. (County Law Sec. 18b.)  

An accounts and records statement made by the Support Collection Unit (SCU) listing the payments made and money owed under an order of support.

A short way of saying “also known as.” For example, President William Jefferson Clinton is also known as Bill Clinton, a.k.a. Bubba.

1. Family Court: When a parent leaves a child with little or no care or contact for a long time. 2. Divorce cases: A reason to give a divorce. When a spouse has left the other for no good reason for one year or more, and the other person did not agree. 3. Housing cases: When a person does something that shows they are not interested in the home and will not return.

To drop an old law by using another law or constitutional power.

1. A youth is AWOL when a youth leaves their foster care home without permission. If the youth stays away for more than 90 days, they can be dropped from foster care and can lose some benefits. 2. In the military: When a soldier leaves his or her post without permission.

A short version (summary) of a legal document. A lot of words left out.

A short version of the court’s final decision. A lot of words left out.

A person who gives help to a person who commits a crime without directly committing it themself.

A person who commits a crime with another person.

1. A report listing all of the debt and assets of a person or thing (estate, company, corporation). 2. Surrogate’s Court: A report of the money spent, given out, and earned including any fees and unpaid bills. This includes support papers, like a will, receipts, bills, and taxes. 3. Surrogate’s Court: The name of the paper filed to show what money was spent or given out or earned in an estate, administration, trust, or guardianship. Must be filed by a fiduciary.

The total amount of money that is owed or that is late.

A paper filed with the court charging a person with one or more offenses.

The person that is charged with a crime and has to go to criminal court.

1. A person says that something is true. 2. A written statement signed in front of an official, like a notary public, who says the person signing is who they claim to be.

A voluntary written statement made by the mother and the biological father where they say that the man is the father of the child. A properly executed statement has the same effect as a court order.

A decision by a Judge or jury that the person on trial is not guilty.

Administration for Children's Services.

In court, when one person sues someone else to: 1. Protect or enforce a right, or 2. Stop something bad from happening or fix something, or 3. Punish someone for a crime.

A case that is in court but is waiting for a decision has active status. 

Latin: “To the damage.” The amount of money claimed in a case.

Latin: "For this lawsuit." In this case only.

Another paper or words added to an original paper or set of papers.

To put off a court date until another time or place.

A decision to put off a trial for a certain amount of time, usually six months. If the conditions of the ACD are met then the case is dropped.