CourtHelp Legal Glossary

The legal steps that lets deductions be made from wages or income on a regular schedule. The deductions are used to pay a debt, like child support. Wage withholding often is put into a child support order. It can be voluntary (agreed to) or involuntary (not agreed to). Also known as "income withholding."

1. Agreeing to give up a legal right, and understanding what it means and what it will do. 2. Noun: A waiver. A paper signed by a person giving up a legal right.

A signed paper by a witness who agrees to testify even if things said may be used against him or her later (gives up the privilege against self-incrimination).

A paper signed by the defendant agreeing to give up his right to a Grand Jury Hearing.

A form signed by a defendant and the Judge that says what legal rights are given up by the defendant.

A youth that is under the care and control of the juvenile court and not his or her parent(s).

An order in writing that is issued and signed by a Judge or judicial officer telling a peace officer to do something. There are many different kinds of warrants: 1. An arrest warrant orders a peace officer to bring the person accused of a crime to court. 2. A bench warrant is a Judge's order to arrest and bring a person to court because the person did not appear in court when they were supposed to. 3. A search warrant is an order telling law enforcement officers to search a specific premises for specific persons or things and to bring them to the court. 4. A warrant of eviction in Landlord/Tenant Court describes the place and allows a marshal or sheriff to remove the occupants and give possession to another.

A promise that goes with the rental of residential property that it will be fit for people to live in (habitable). This includes having working plumbing, gas, electrical and heating systems, hot and cold running water, locking doors and windows, a roof that does not leak, windows, walls and doors, and other health and safety conditions, including clean and sanitary maintenance of the building and grounds, enough bins to store garbage and no rodents or vermin. This promise is part of the law, even if the landlord does not include it in the lease or rental agreement.

Permanent damage to real property.

A legal paper that lists a person's wishes about what will happen to their personal property after death.

When a Judge decides if someone wanted to disobey an order of support in a child or spousal support case.

1. Words used when rights or privileges are lost. 2. The outcome of a case that keeps a person from using the same claim again in future cases.

1. Words used when rights or privileges are not waived or lost. 2. The outcome of a case that allows a person to use the same claim again in future cases.

A person who testifies to what they have seen, heard, or experienced.

A court order in writing that says that a certain action must be taken, for example, making a person to appear in court. There are many different kinds of writs: 1. A writ of attachment is an order to seize (take) specified property. 2. A writ of certiorari is an order by an appellate court granting or denying a review of a judgment. 3. A writ of execution is an order to enforce a court judgment. 4. A writ of Habeas Corpus is an order to release someone that was put in prison but it was wrong. 5. A writ of Mandamus is an order to perform an act already part of a person's duty. 6. A writ of prohibition orders a person who has a duty to perform an act to stop doing it. This is usually an order from a higher to a lower court. This is the opposite of a writ of Mandamus.

A case brought by family members (or person who would take under the will, like a beneficiary) of a person who has died because of an improper, negligent or illegal act of another person that caused their family member’s death.

Special judges and courtrooms in the Supreme and County Courts that address the unique issues of prosecuting Adolescent Offenders or Juvenile Offenders charged with certain felonies.

A person who is sentenced for a crime that happened when they were 14, 15, 16, 17 or 18 years old and is given youthful offender status by the judge. Being a youthful offender gives the teen a chance to have no record of the crime.

Laws that control the type and use of lands and buildings.