CourtHelp Legal Glossary

Legal provision that lets a state claim personal jurisdiction (legal control) over someone who lives in another state. There must be some connection between the person and the state that wants jurisdiction legally do this.

When a lender and borrower who is behind on his or her mortgage attempt to negotiate a deal that is good for both parties. Some loss mitigation options are: loan modification, forbearance, short sale, and deed-in-lieu of foreclosure. Loss mitigation may help the borrower stay in the home or may help lower the amount of a judgment against the borrower.

A person with the power to issue arrest warrants and find if there is a reason to suspect someone of a crime (probable cause) at a preliminary hearing.

To cripple or damage in any way, like to injure a person in a way that keeps them from the use of any limb or other part of their body. It means to seriously wound, disfigure, or disable.

1. In divorce cases: Financial support given by one person to another. 2. The general repair and care of property to keep it up correctly.

Bad behavior, doing something wrong or against the law; especially when done by a public official.

Act of negligence or incompetence by a professional (doctor, lawyer, etc.).

Required, ordered, no choice.

A fee that a defendant must pay when he or she has been convicted of an offense. It is separate from any fine that the court may have charged.

An assessment where the individual education program (IEP) team figures out if a special education student's bad behavior that normally could result in being expelled is, really a direct result of that student's disability and is not a reason to expel the student from school.

When someone kills a person, but didn't mean to do it.

A hearing held to ask the court to not use physical evidence based on the idea that the evidence was gotten during an illegal search.

Any property that either person got from the beginning of a marriage to the divorce, like a house, car, IRA, bank account(s), pension, annuity, business or advanced degrees. These are all examples of marital property. But an inheritance, a gift from someone that isn't the husband or wife, or compensation for personal injuries, are separate property.

In a divorce, legal separation, or annulment, a judgment will often include a marital settlement agreement (MSA). This is a contract in writing between the parties that explains how the issues in the case will be handled. It usually happens when there are complicated issues of property, debt, support, or custody that need to be worked out in the judgment.

1. A peace officer that has the power to arrest, to serve subpoenas and legal papers and to act as bailiff in a courtroom. 2. A person licensed by a city to enforce the judgment of a court.

1. A notice from a marshal telling a person that the marshal will be acting on a judgment. 2. In landlord-tenant court a marshal’s notice is also called a Notice of Eviction. This notice tells a person that they will be evicted after a few days.

A person who the Judge has decided can speak (testify) on some issue that is extremely important to a case, especially if others can't give the same testimony.

1. Unlawfully and violently depriving a person from the use of a part of their body especially to keep a person from being able to defend themself. 2. Violent destruction or rowdy activity.

A process where a neutral person (or persons), called a mediator(s), helps people who have a disagreement to reach an agreement. The mediator does not act as a judge, but helps the parties talk so they can come to their own decision together.

A kind of child support where medical or dental insurance coverage is paid by a parent. Depending on the court order, medical support can be that parent's only financial obligation to the child.

The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH), Division of Mental Hygiene Services (Division or DMH), is responsible for managing contracts and providers having to do with mental health services for adults, adolescents and children.

A neighborhood based arraignment court dealing with low level quality of life offenses, i.e. public urination, bike violations, littering.

A special calendar delaying a case because a party or a witness is in the military service.

A person under the age of 18 years.

The official (permanent) record of a court proceeding telling what happened in the case. For example, names of witnesses, motions, and findings reached.