ACTION: a lawsuit or proceeding in a court of law.
AFFIDAVIT: a written statement made under oath and notarized by a Notary
Public.
ALIMONY: a payment of support provided by one spouse to the other.
ALIAS SUMMONS: another summons when the original is not served on the
defendant.
ANSWER: the written response to a complaint, petition, or motion.
APPEAL: a legal action where the losing party requests that a higher
court review the
BAILIFF: a member of the judge staff who is in charge of courtroom
procedure and security. The bailiff may sometimes be called the
"clerk."
BRIEF: written argument presented to a court for the purpose of
informing and persuading the judge.
CAPTION: the heading of each legal document, which contains the name of
the court, the names of the parties, the case number, and the name of the
document itself.
CASE: a dispute which has been taken to court; a lawsuit.
CAUSE OF ACTION: a point of controversy; basis of a legal action.
CERTIFIED COPY: a copy of a paper from a court file made by the court
clerk, which has an official stamp on it. Usually, you must pay a fee for a
certified copy.
CHANCELLOR: a trial judge who now has essentially the same
responsibilities as a Circuit Judge but who, in English history, had somewhat
different ones.
CLERK OF THE COURT: an officer of the court who handles clerical matters
like keeping records, entering judgments and providing certified copies.
Usually, there is one head clerk, but many people who work in the Clerk's
Office are also clerks. Also, a judge or assistant can be called a clerk.
COMPLAINT: a legal paper that starts a case.
CONDONATION: the act of forgiving one's spouse who has committed an act
of wrongdoing that would constitute a ground for divorce. Condonation generally
is proven by living and cohabiting with the spouse after learning that the
wrongdoing was committed. It often is used as a defense to a divorce.
CONTEMPT: failure to follow a court order. One side can request that the
court determine that the other side is in contempt and punish him or her.
CONTINUANCE: delaying your court hearing to a later date.
CORROBORATION: testimony from a person that backs up your story. If you
are asking the court to grant a divorce, you must bring to the hearing a
witness who can corroborate your grounds for divorce.
COUNSEL: attorney; lawyer.
COUNTERCLAIM: the defendant's claim against the plaintiff.
