Glossary

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.

A detention of real estate without the consent of the owner or other person entitled to its possession.

In bankruptcy proceedings, for the purpose of filing a claim, a claim is unsecured if there is no collateral, or to the extent the value of collateral is less than the amount of the debt.

Charging a higher interest rate or higher fees than the law allows.

To set aside. To vacate a judgment is to set aside that judgment.

A writ summoning persons to court to act as jurors, also refers to the people summoned for jury duty.

The proper geographical area (county, city, or district) in which a court with jurisdiction over the subject matter may hear a case.

1 : the place or county in which take place the alleged events from which a legal action arises used esp. at common law 2 : the place from which a jury is drawn and in which trial is held see also change of venue compare jurisdiction 3 : a statement showing that a case is brought to the proper court or authority

The findings of a judge or jury at the end of the trial.

Examination of a jury panel by the judge, defense counsel and the state attorney.

A form signed before a judge in which a defendant voluntarily submits to pickup by a foreign jurisdiction waiving his/her rights as guaranteed under the Constitution.