CourtHelp Legal Glossary

An order telling a party to fix one or more violations.

An order telling a state or city Commissioner of Corrections to bring an incarcerated person for a court appearance.

A written request to the court to ask for something. Used to bring something in to the court’s attention quickly and can be used to ask the court to stop what is happening until the court date. It is a way to make a motion.

A regulation (law) made by a local government to enforce, control, or limit certain activities.

To undo or void a decision.

When a person is released from custody and is not made to pay bail because of his or her promise to come to court to answer a criminal charge.

Money the court orders someone to pay to a person they lived with but did not marry.

1. Any group of people. 2. In appellate court cases, a group of judges, usually three, that decide the case. 3. In jury selection, it's the group of potential jurors. 4. The list of attorneys that are available and qualified to be appointed by the court to represent criminal defendants that can't afford their own lawyers.

1. A petition for administrative review. 2. An appeal to DHCR to review its decision.

1. A package. 2. A plot of land. 3. To divide and give out something.

When the chief executive of a state or country sets free a convicted person from the punishment given to them by a court sentence.

1. Being a child’s parent. 2. Related in direct blood line. 3. Lineage.

Classes that help parents focus on the needs of their children and give parents information to provide a healthy non-threatening home environment. Sometimes the court can order one or both parents to go to parenting classes so they can learn to communicate better about their children’s needs.

The release of a person from prison before the end of his or her sentence. It requires supervision of the person and says what they can or cannot do for a certain amount of time.

A courtroom for a specific type of case.

A verdict where a jury finds a defendant guilty or not guilty on some charges but cannot come to a group decision on other charges.

One of the sides in a court case. The parties are usually called the "plaintiff" or "petitioner" and the "defendant" or "respondent." On appeal, parties are called the "appellant" and "appellee."

This program keeps a person from getting a passport when they owe $5,000 or more in child support. The federal Office of Child Support Enforcement sends this information to the U.S. Department of State to not allow a passport to be given out for that person.

The decision by a court saying who is or is not the father of a child. Legal determination of fatherhood.

A court case asking if a man is the biological father of a child.

A lawsuit to decide who the father of a child is if the parents were not married when the child was born. Also called paternity petition.

Person or organization who receives money.

Person or organization that pays money.

1. Portable Document Format. 2. A file format that makes it possible to display words and pictures so that they look the same on any computer screen.

The state’s criminal law which lists all offenses and their possible punishments.