Alimony
Court-ordered financial support paid to a spouse after divorce.
Arbitration
Resolving a dispute privately before a neutral arbitrator instead of in court.
Arraignment
A court hearing where a defendant is formally charged and enters a plea.
Asylum
Protection granted to people who fear persecution in their home country.
At-Will Employment
Employment that either side can end at any time, for almost any reason.
Audit
An official review of a taxpayer's records by a tax authority.
Chapter 13 Bankruptcy
A bankruptcy that reorganizes debt into a 3–5 year repayment plan.
Chapter 7 Bankruptcy
A bankruptcy that erases most debts by liquidating non-exempt assets.
Child Support
Court-ordered payments to cover a child's living costs.
Class Action
A lawsuit where one or more people sue on behalf of a larger group.
Comparative Negligence
A rule reducing damages by the injured person's own share of fault.
Complaint
The document a plaintiff files to begin a lawsuit, stating their claims.
Contingency Fee
A fee paid only if the lawyer wins, taken as a share of the recovery.
Copyright
A creator's exclusive right to use and copy their original work.
Custody
The legal right and responsibility to care for a child.
Damages
Money a court orders one party to pay another for harm or loss.
Defendant
The person or party being sued or accused in a legal case.
Deportation
The formal removal of a non-citizen from the country.
Deposition
Sworn out-of-court testimony recorded for use in a case.
Discovery
The pre-trial process where each side exchanges evidence and information.
Discrimination
Treating someone unfairly based on a protected trait like race or sex.
Due Diligence
The investigation a party does before a deal or transaction.
Patent
A right granting an inventor exclusive use of an invention for a time.
Personal Injury
Harm to a person's body, mind or emotions caused by another's actions.
Plaintiff
The person or party who starts a lawsuit by filing a complaint.
Plea Bargain
A deal where a defendant pleads guilty, often to a lesser charge.
Power of Attorney
A document letting someone act legally on another's behalf.
Premises Liability
A property owner's responsibility for injuries that happen on their property.
Prenuptial Agreement
A contract made before marriage setting out how assets are handled.
Pro Bono
Legal work done voluntarily and without charge for the public good.
Probable Cause
A reasonable basis to believe a crime was committed, needed for arrests.
Probate
The court process of validating a will and distributing an estate.