CourtHelp Legal Glossary

An understanding between two or more people about their rights and duties to each other.

A name used by a person that is not his or her legal name.

A claim that the person accused was somewhere else at the time a crime was committed.

Money the court orders you to pay to a spouse (husband or wife) or ex-spouse.

A statement or claim that is made and has not been proven to be true or false.

To say that something is true even if it has not been proven.

1. Criminal Court: A statement by a convicted defendant before sentencing to try to shorten the time in jail. 2. In Civil Court: When a Judge reads an agreement on the record with the parties before accepting it. 3. A formal speech.

A person picked for a jury in case a juror needs to be replaced.

The court system supports community- and court-based programs that offer mediation, arbitration and other dispute resolution options as an alternative to litigation. These processes are available for a wide variety of matters such as family, neighbor and business disputes. Mediation participants often report high levels of satisfaction with the process and the outcome.

To change or fix something.

Latin: “friend of the court.” Someone that gives advice to the court about what the law means in a case but is not part of the case.

1. A case that grows out of another case. It is filed in order to help in the original case, or to help change something. 2. Surrogate’s Court: A case asking the court to appoint someone to manage the New York real or personal property of an out-of-state or foreign estate.

Everything else that can be asked for in a divorce case on top of the divorce itself. For example, maintenance, sometimes called alimony, division of property, responsibility for debts or bills, child support, etc.

To cancel.

A legal action that says a marriage was never legal because of mental problems, incest, bigamy, being too young to consent, fraud, force, or physical incapacity. Also called nullity of marriage.

When someone’s name is kept secret or is unknown.

1. A statement that a defendant writes to reply to a civil case and says what defenses they will use. 2. Housing Court: What a respondent says about the landlord/owner’s claims. Usually verbal, but can be in writing.

A request to a higher court to check a lower court’s decision to find out if it was right. The person who asks for the appeal is called the appellant. The other person is called the appellee.

1. Going to court. 2. A legal paper that says you will participate in the court process.

Someone who asks a higher court to change a lower court’s decision. A person who starts an appeal.

A court that can check how the law was used to decide a case in a lower court. In New York State the appellate courts are: The Appellate Term, the Appellate Division, and the Court of Appeals.

A person who is the respondent (the person defending) an appeal in a higher court.

A Family Court definition that stands for “another planned permanent living arrangement.”

A way to settle issues outside the court where a person that isn't involved in the case acts as a Judge and makes a decision. Usually this decision is final and can't be appealed.

A person who is not a Judge but can hear and decide a case.