Glossary

A legal document that is referred to in a will and used to guide the distribution of tangible personal property.

Any form of action by a court granting one of the parties an order to protect its interest pending further action by the court.

A judge's order forbidding certain actions until a full hearing can be held. Usually of short duration. Often referred to as a TRO.

The legal ability to make a will.

A trust set up by a will.

Person who makes a will (female: testatrix)

The evidence given by a witness under oath. It does not include evidence from documents and other physical evidence.

A person, business or government agency not actively involved in a legal proceeding, agreement, or transaction.

An action by the defendant that beings a third party into a lawsuit.

Actual number of days served in jail.

Legal ownership of property, usually real property or automobiles.

An injury or wrong committed on the person or property of another. A tort is an infringement on the rights of an individual, but not founded in a contract. The most common tort action is a suit for damages sustained in an automobile accident.

A written, word-for-word record of what was said, either in a proceeding such as a trial or during some other conversation, as in a transcript of a hearing or oral deposition.

Cases going from one court or one jurisdiction to another.

A formal denial of allegations.

A finding by a grand jury that there is sufficient evidence to warrant a criminal charge.

An exact copy of a written instrument.

A legal device used to manage real or personal property, established by one person (the grantor or settlor) for the benefit of another (the beneficiary). A third person (the trustee) or the grantor manages the trust.

The legal document that sets up a living trust. Testamentary trusts are set up in a will.

The person or institution that manages the property put in trust.