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Plain-English Legal Glossary

Read 89 legal terms with document context, careful limits, neutral examples, and sources to verify. No outcome predictions or invented statewide rules.

Last reviewed August 27, 2026. Verify changing laws, rules, forms, fees, and deadlines with the controlling source. Record the source, version, jurisdiction, and date checked before relying on an important instruction.

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Read 89 legal terms with document context, careful limits, neutral examples, and sources to verify.

Start with the exact document or event, not a hoped-for legal label. Pages are preparation tools and link onward to the court, agency, program, or nonprofit source that should be checked.

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Administrative Appeala request for an agency or designated reviewer to reconsider an administrative decision under specified proceduresAffidavita written statement of facts that the signer swears or affirms is true before an authorized officialAnswera defendant's formal pleading responding to allegations in a complaintAppeala request that a higher court or authorized body review a decision for claimed errorArraignmenta criminal-court proceeding where charges are stated and a plea and release issues may be addressedAutomatic Staythe Bankruptcy Code protection that generally pauses many collection actions after a bankruptcy filing, subject to statutory exceptions and court ordersBankruptcy Dischargea court order that eliminates the debtor's personal liability for qualifying debts, while exceptions and some liens may remainBeneficiarya person or entity designated to receive property, benefits, or an interest under an instrument or planBreach Of Contracta failure, without legal excuse, to perform a duty required by an enforceable contractBurden Of Proofthe obligation to prove a fact or claim to the required legal standardCase Captionthe heading on a court filing that identifies the court, parties, case number, and sometimes the document typeCause Of Actiona recognized set of legal elements that, if proven, entitles a claimant to seek a remedyClaim Objectiona formal challenge to the validity, amount, priority, or treatment of a claim, often in bankruptcy or probateComparative Faulta rule that allocates responsibility among parties and may reduce recovery based on a claimant's share of faultComplaintthe pleading that begins many civil cases by stating claims, supporting allegations, parties, and requested reliefContinuancea court- or agency-approved postponement of a scheduled proceedingCopyrightfederal protection for qualifying original works of authorship fixed in a tangible mediumCounterclaima claim asserted by a responding party against an opposing party in the same caseCustodylegal authority and practical arrangements concerning a child's care and decision-making, defined by state law and court ordersDamagesmoney sought or awarded to compensate loss, punish qualifying misconduct, or provide another legally recognized remedyDeeda written instrument used to transfer an interest in real property when properly executed and deliveredDefaulta failure to take a required procedural step, such as answering or appearing, which may permit relief without a merits trialDefendantthe party against whom a civil claim or criminal charge is broughtDemand Lettera written request for payment, performance, return of property, or another remedy, often stating facts and a response dateDiscoverythe formal pretrial process for obtaining information and evidence from parties or other sourcesDismissaltermination of some or all claims, either with or without the ability to bring them againDocketthe court's chronological list of filings, orders, hearings, and other recorded case eventsDue Process Hearinga formal administrative hearing used in certain programs, including special education, to decide disputed legal rightsEasementa nonpossessory right to use another person's land for a defined purposeEvictionthe legal process by which a landlord seeks possession of rented property; lawful removal generally requires required procedureEvidencetestimony, documents, objects, data, or other material offered to prove or disprove a factExecutora person named in a will and authorized by a probate court, where required, to administer an estateExemptiona legal protection that shields qualifying property, income, or transactions from a rule or collection processExhibita document, image, object, or other item marked and offered as evidence in a proceedingFee Waivercourt approval allowing a qualifying person to avoid, reduce, or defer specified filing or service feesFilingdelivering a document to a court or agency so it becomes part of the official matter under applicable rulesForeclosurea process used to enforce a mortgage or deed-of-trust lien and potentially sell the secured property after defaultGarnishmenta legal process directing a third party, often an employer or bank, to hold or pay funds toward a debtGuardiana person or entity legally authorized to make specified decisions for another person, subject to the appointing law or orderHealth Directivea document expressing health-care wishes or appointing a decision-maker for times when the signer cannot decideHearinga scheduled proceeding where a court or agency receives argument, evidence, or information on identified issuesIEPan Individualized Education Program: the written special-education plan developed under federal law for an eligible studentInjunctiona court order requiring a person to do or stop doing specified actsInsurance Adjustera person who investigates and evaluates an insurance claim for an insurer or adjusting companyJudgmenta court's final or separately enforceable determination of rights and relief in a case or claimJurisdictiona court's or agency's legal authority over the subject, parties, or territory involvedLeasean agreement granting possession or use of property for a period in exchange for rent or other considerationLiabilitylegal responsibility for an obligation, loss, or wrongful actLicensepermission to use property, rights, or regulated privileges under stated terms without necessarily transferring ownershipLiena legal claim or security interest attached to property to secure payment or performanceLiquidated Damagesa contractually stated amount payable for a specified breach, enforceable only under governing lawMediationa process in which a neutral person helps parties explore voluntary resolution without deciding the disputeMedical Recordsdocuments and data maintained about a patient's evaluation, diagnosis, treatment, billing, or careMotiona formal request asking a court or agency to issue a particular ruling or orderNaturalizationthe federal process through which an eligible noncitizen becomes a United States citizenNegligencefailure to use the legally required level of care, causing the type of harm the duty was meant to preventNotice To Appearan official document directing a person to appear in a specified proceeding; its meaning depends on the issuing authorityNoticea communication intended to inform a person of a fact, demand, proceeding, or legal right under applicable requirementsOperating Agreementan agreement governing an LLC's ownership, management, economics, and internal rulesOrdera directive or decision issued by a court or authorized decision-makerOvertimepremium compensation required for qualifying hours or workers under applicable wage lawPlaintiffthe party who begins a civil lawsuit by asserting a claimPleadinga formal document stating a party's claims, defenses, admissions, or denials in a casePower Of Attorneya document authorizing an agent to act for the principal within stated powers, duration, and governing lawProbate Estatethe property and obligations administered through probate after a person's death, excluding assets that pass outside probateProbatethe court-supervised process for addressing a will, appointing authority, paying proper claims, and distributing estate propertyProtective Ordera court order designed to prevent specified contact, conduct, disclosure, or harm; scope depends on the proceedingReasonable Accommodationa change that enables a qualified person with a disability to access employment, housing, education, or services, subject to governing legal limitsRetaliationadverse action taken because a person engaged in activity protected by lawRFEa Request for Evidence from USCIS asking for additional proof before the agency decides an immigration filingSecurity Depositmoney held to secure a tenant's obligations under a rental agreement, subject to state and local handling rulesService Of Processformal delivery of legal papers in a manner authorized by procedural rulesSettlementa voluntary agreement resolving some or all disputed claims, usually in exchange for promises, payment, or dismissalStatute Of Limitationsa law setting the time by which a claim ordinarily must be filed, subject to claim-specific rules and exceptionsSubpoenaa legally authorized command to testify, produce materials, or both at a stated time and placeSupport Ordera court or agency directive setting child, spousal, or other legally recognized support dutiesTax Levya taxing authority's legal seizure of property or rights to property to collect assessed tax debtTax Liena legal claim against property arising from unpaid tax obligations after required assessment and notice stepsTemporary Orderan interim directive governing specified issues until another order or final decision replaces itTitlethe legal ownership interest in property, distinct from the document or record used to show itTrade Secretcommercial information that derives value from secrecy and is subject to reasonable measures to keep it secretTrademarka word, name, symbol, design, or other indicator that identifies the source of goods or servicesTrusta legal relationship in which a trustee holds and manages property for stated beneficiaries or purposesVenuethe proper geographic court location for a case under governing procedural rulesWarda person placed under a court-ordered guardianship in jurisdictions that use the termWilla document directing the disposition of probate property and often nominating fiduciaries, effective at death if validly executedWitnessa person who provides testimony or evidence based on knowledge relevant to a proceedingWork Authorizationfederal permission for a noncitizen to work in the United States under a qualifying status or employment authorization documentWrongful Terminationan employment termination that violates a statute, contract, protected public policy, or another recognized legal rule

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