CourtHelp Legal Glossary

The approval by a Judge of a settlement in an infant’s claim.

A document charging a person with a crime in writing. It is presented in court by a prosecuting officer under oath and does not come from a grand jury.

Legal paper that makes a person or a business answer questions about itself or about where a judgment debtor’s assets can be found. For example, the number of a debtor’s bank account.

A minor violation of a law, contract, or right that is not a misdemeanor or a felony and can't be punished by time in prison. 

The state or county court, or administrative agency, that sends a request for action to another jurisdiction in interstate child support cases.

A court order telling a person to do or not something.

Free from legal fault. Found not guilty of criminal charges by a court. Acquitted.

A legal process to decide a case where only one side is present to testify.

Weekly, monthly, or other periodic payments on a debt.

Instructions the Judge gives to a jury just before it starts to deliberate, telling the jury what laws apply to that case.

In Family Court, the first court proceeding where the petition is read and charges/demands are explained.

A special court where a Judge hears all parts of a family’s case about domestic violence.

Latin: “Among other things.”

Latin: “Between the living.” A trust made by a person while they are alive.

When non wage payments (like federal income tax refunds, state income tax refunds, unemployment benefits, and disability benefits) made to a parent that owes support are taken and given to the parent who gets support.

A court order that is conditional, temporary, or not final.

There are four Judicial Departments* in the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court. The Appellate Division hears civil and criminal appeals from the trial courts and civil appeals from the Appellate Terms and County Courts.

In the First and Second Departments, Appellate Terms of the Supreme Court hear appeals of decisions in cases starting in the New York City Civil and Criminal Courts. In the Second Department, the Appellate Terms also hear appeals of decisions in cases that started in the District, City or Town and Village Courts.

In the Third and Fourth Departments, the County Courts are primarily trial courts, but they also hear appeals of decisions in cases starting in the City Courts and the Town and Village Courts.

When two or more people have a claim to the same thing held by a third party. The third party may force them to go to trial with each other to settle their dispute.

A person that is certified as being able to translate, orally or in writing, spoken or sign language to the court.

A set of written questions sent by one side in a case to the other side as part of pretrial discovery (investigation). The side that receives the interrogatories must answer them in writing under oath.

In child support, cases where the child and the parent that owes support live in two different states, or where two or more states are involved in some case activity, like enforcement.

To die without making a will.

A detailed list of property.

In a foreclosure case, the bank may sell the mortgage to an investor and the investor may decide what type of alternatives to foreclosure to offer when the borrower applies for mortgage assistance. These alternatives are called loss mitigation.

When a relationship is impossible to fix for at least six months. A ground for no-fault divorce.