An action between two or more persons in the courts of law, not a criminal matter.
A seizure; the obtaining of money by legal process through seizure and sale of property.
Behavior that is obscene, lustful, indecent, vulgar.
Legal debts and obligations.
Legally responsible.
Published words or pictures that falsely and maliciously harm the reputation of a person. See DEFAMATION.
A machine which records by a needle on a graph varying emotional disturbances when answering questions truly or falsely, as indicated by fluctuations in blood pressure, respiration, or perspiration.
A legal claim against another person's property as security for a debt. A lien does not convey ownership of the property, but gives the lien holder a right to have his or her debt satisfied out of the proceeds of the property if the debt is not otherwise paid.
A type of sentence where the convicted criminal is ordered to spend the rest of his or her life in prison.
Refers to courts that are limited in the types of criminal and civil cases they may hear. For example, traffic violations generally are heard by limited jurisdiction courts.
A police identification procedure by which the suspect to a crime is exhibited, along with others, before the victim or witness to determine if the victim or witness can identify the suspect as the person who committed the crime.
One not trained in law.
A party to a lawsuit. Litigation refers to a case, controversy, or lawsuit.
A lawsuit.
A trust set up and in effect during the lifetime of the grantor. Also called inter vivos trust.
To stand idly around, particularly in a public place.
Putting a person to death, usually by hanging, without legal authority.
Judicial officer exercising some of the functions of a judge. It also refers in a general way to a judge.
Evil doing, ill conduct; the commission of some act which is positively prohibited by law.
Ill will, hatred, or hostility by one person toward another which may prompt the intentional doing of a wrongful act without legal justification or excuse.
Willful destruction of property, from actual ill will or resentment toward its owner or possessor.
An action instituted with intention of injuring the defendant and without probable cause, and which terminates in favor of the person prosecuted.
One which instructs the witness how to answer or puts words in his mouth to be echoed back. One which suggests to the witness the answer desired.
Violation of a professional duty to act with reasonable care and in good faith without fraud or collusion. This term is usually applied to such conduct by doctors, lawyers, or accountants.
A contract by which owner of property grants to another the right to possess, use, and enjoy it for a specified period of time in exchange for payment of an agreed price (rent).
Professional legal services available usually to persons or organizations unable to afford such services.
Recommendation for a sentence less than the maximum allowed.
A crime composed of some, but not all, of the elements of a greater crime; commission of the greater crime automatically includes commission of the lesser included offense.
Legal document issued by a court that shows an administrator's legal right to take control of assets in the deceased person's name.
Legal document issued by a court that shows an executor's legal right to take control of assets in the deceased person's name.