DocketXDocketX / Glossary
The words nobody explains to you
Courtrooms run on vocabulary that nobody stops to define while your case is happening. Every term here is explained in plain language, jurisdiction-neutral, with a pointer to the actual rule when it matters.
Appeals
Abuse Of Discretion
What it means in a real case.
Open →Appeal
What it means in a real case.
Open →Appellant
What it means in a real case.
Open →Appellee
What it means in a real case.
Open →Brief
What it means in a real case.
Open →Certiorari
What it means in a real case.
Open →Claim Preclusion
What it means in a real case.
Open →Clearly Erroneous
What it means in a real case.
Open →Collateral Attack
What it means in a real case.
Open →Collateral Estoppel
What it means in a real case.
Open →De Novo
What it means in a real case.
Open →En Banc
What it means in a real case.
Open →Issue Preclusion
What it means in a real case.
Open →Law Of The Case
What it means in a real case.
Open →Notice Of Appeal
What it means in a real case.
Open →Oral Argument
What it means in a real case.
Open →Remand
What it means in a real case.
Open →Res Judicata
What it means in a real case.
Open →Reverse
What it means in a real case.
Open →Standard Of Review
What it means in a real case.
Open →Substantial Evidence
What it means in a real case.
Open →Vacate
What it means in a real case.
Open →Writ Of Certiorari
What it means in a real case.
Open →Contracts
Acceptance
What it means in a real case.
Open →Accord And Satisfaction
What it means in a real case.
Open →Anticipatory Breach
What it means in a real case.
Open →Breach Of Contract
What it means in a real case.
Open →Capacity
What it means in a real case.
Open →Compensatory Damages
What it means in a real case.
Open →Consequential Damages
What it means in a real case.
Open →Consideration
What it means in a real case.
Open →Contract
What it means in a real case.
Open →Damages
What it means in a real case.
Open →Duress
What it means in a real case.
Open →Express Warranty
What it means in a real case.
Open →Fraud
What it means in a real case.
Open →Hold Harmless
What it means in a real case.
Open →Implied Warranty
What it means in a real case.
Open →Indemnification
What it means in a real case.
Open →Indemnity
What it means in a real case.
Open →Legality
What it means in a real case.
Open →Liquidated Damages
What it means in a real case.
Open →Material Breach
What it means in a real case.
Open →Minor Breach
What it means in a real case.
Open →Misrepresentation
What it means in a real case.
Open →Mistake
What it means in a real case.
Open →Mutual Assent
What it means in a real case.
Open →Offer
What it means in a real case.
Open →Parol Evidence Rule
What it means in a real case.
Open →Promissory Estoppel
What it means in a real case.
Open →Reformation
What it means in a real case.
Open →Rescission
What it means in a real case.
Open →Restitution
What it means in a real case.
Open →Specific Performance
What it means in a real case.
Open →Statute Of Frauds
What it means in a real case.
Open →Unconscionability
What it means in a real case.
Open →Undue Influence
What it means in a real case.
Open →Warranty
What it means in a real case.
Open →Warranty Of Fitness
What it means in a real case.
Open →Warranty Of Merchantability
What it means in a real case.
Open →Courts
Appellate Court
What it means in a real case.
Open →Bankruptcy Court
What it means in a real case.
Open →Calendar
What it means in a real case.
Open →Chief Judge
What it means in a real case.
Open →Circuit Court
What it means in a real case.
Open →Court Clerk
What it means in a real case.
Open →Court Of Appeals
What it means in a real case.
Open →Court Of Last Resort
What it means in a real case.
Open →Court Reporter
What it means in a real case.
Open →District Court
What it means in a real case.
Open →Diversity Jurisdiction
What it means in a real case.
Open →Docket
What it means in a real case.
Open →Family Court
What it means in a real case.
Open →Federal Court
What it means in a real case.
Open →Federal Question Jurisdiction
What it means in a real case.
Open →In Rem Jurisdiction
What it means in a real case.
Open →Judge
What it means in a real case.
Open →Jurisdiction
What it means in a real case.
Open →Jurisdiction
What it means in a real case.
Open →Justice
What it means in a real case.
Open →Juvenile Court
What it means in a real case.
Open →Limit
What it means in a real case.
Open →Magistrate
What it means in a real case.
Open →Municipal Court
What it means in a real case.
Open →Personal Jurisdiction
What it means in a real case.
Open →Petit Jury
What it means in a real case.
Open →Presiding Judge
What it means in a real case.
Open →Pro Hac Vice
What it means in a real case.
Open →Probate Court
What it means in a real case.
Open →Small Claims
What it means in a real case.
Open →Small Claims Court
What it means in a real case.
Open →State Court
What it means in a real case.
Open →Subject Matter Jurisdiction
What it means in a real case.
Open →Superior Court
What it means in a real case.
Open →Supreme Court
What it means in a real case.
Open →Tax Court
What it means in a real case.
Open →Traffic Court
What it means in a real case.
Open →Trial Court
What it means in a real case.
Open →Venue
What it means in a real case.
Open →Criminal procedure
Miranda Rights
What it means in a real case.
Open →Arraignment
What it means in a real case.
Open →Arrest Warrant
What it means in a real case.
Open →Bail
What it means in a real case.
Open →Beyond A Reasonable Doubt
What it means in a real case.
Open →Discovery
What it means in a real case.
Open →Double Jeopardy
What it means in a real case.
Open →Grand Jury
What it means in a real case.
Open →Indictment
What it means in a real case.
Open →Information
What it means in a real case.
Open →Motion To Suppress
What it means in a real case.
Open →Plea
What it means in a real case.
Open →Plea Bargain
What it means in a real case.
Open →Probable Cause
What it means in a real case.
Open →Search Warrant
What it means in a real case.
Open →Self-Incrimination
What it means in a real case.
Open →Legal documents
Abstract Of Judgment
What it means in a real case.
Open →Affidavit
What it means in a real case.
Open →Affidavit Of Service
What it means in a real case.
Open →Answer
What it means in a real case.
Open →Certificate Of Service
What it means in a real case.
Open →Complaint
What it means in a real case.
Open →Consent Decree
What it means in a real case.
Open →Final Judgment
What it means in a real case.
Open →Interlocutory Order
What it means in a real case.
Open →Legal Memorandum
What it means in a real case.
Open →Memorandum Of Law
What it means in a real case.
Open →Motion
What it means in a real case.
Open →Order
What it means in a real case.
Open →Order To Show Cause
What it means in a real case.
Open →Permanent Order
What it means in a real case.
Open →Petition
What it means in a real case.
Open →Pleading
What it means in a real case.
Open →Proof Of Service
What it means in a real case.
Open →Proposed Order
What it means in a real case.
Open →Return Of Service
What it means in a real case.
Open →Statement Of Claim
What it means in a real case.
Open →Stipulated Order
What it means in a real case.
Open →Temporary Order
What it means in a real case.
Open →Trial Brief
What it means in a real case.
Open →Verdict Form
What it means in a real case.
Open →Evidence
Attorney-Client Privilege
What it means in a real case.
Open →Authentication
What it means in a real case.
Open →Best Evidence Rule
What it means in a real case.
Open →Burden Of Proof
What it means in a real case.
Open →Business Records
What it means in a real case.
Open →Clear And Convincing Evidence
What it means in a real case.
Open →Cross-Examination
What it means in a real case.
Open →Deposition
What it means in a real case.
Open →Direct Examination
What it means in a real case.
Open →Doctor-Patient Privilege
What it means in a real case.
Open →Dying Declaration
What it means in a real case.
Open →Excited Utterance
What it means in a real case.
Open →Hearsay
What it means in a real case.
Open →Hearsay Exception
What it means in a real case.
Open →Interrogatories
What it means in a real case.
Open →Motion In Limine
What it means in a real case.
Open →Objection
What it means in a real case.
Open →Preponderance Of Evidence
What it means in a real case.
Open →Present Sense Impression
What it means in a real case.
Open →Privilege
What it means in a real case.
Open →Rebuttal
What it means in a real case.
Open →Redirect Examination
What it means in a real case.
Open →Request For Production
What it means in a real case.
Open →Spousal Privilege
What it means in a real case.
Open →Subpoena
What it means in a real case.
Open →Subpoena Duces Tecum
What it means in a real case.
Open →Family law
Adoption
What it means in a real case.
Open →Alimony
What it means in a real case.
Open →Annulment
What it means in a real case.
Open →Child Custody
What it means in a real case.
Open →Child In Need Of Supervision
What it means in a real case.
Open →Child Support
What it means in a real case.
Open →Community Property
What it means in a real case.
Open →Dissolution Of Marriage
What it means in a real case.
Open →Divorce
What it means in a real case.
Open →Domestic Violence
What it means in a real case.
Open →Emancipation
What it means in a real case.
Open →Equitable Distribution
What it means in a real case.
Open →Family Law
What it means in a real case.
Open →Foster Care
What it means in a real case.
Open →Guardianship
What it means in a real case.
Open →Joint Custody
What it means in a real case.
Open →Juvenile Delinquency
What it means in a real case.
Open →Legal Custody
What it means in a real case.
Open →Legal Separation
What it means in a real case.
Open →Marital Property
What it means in a real case.
Open →Name Change
What it means in a real case.
Open →Parenting Plan
What it means in a real case.
Open →Paternity
What it means in a real case.
Open →Physical Custody
What it means in a real case.
Open →Postnuptial Agreement
What it means in a real case.
Open →Prenuptial Agreement
What it means in a real case.
Open →Property Division
What it means in a real case.
Open →Protective Order
What it means in a real case.
Open →Restraining Order
What it means in a real case.
Open →Separate Property
What it means in a real case.
Open →Sole Custody
What it means in a real case.
Open →Spousal Support
What it means in a real case.
Open →Termination Of Parental Rights
What it means in a real case.
Open →Visitation
What it means in a real case.
Open →Housing and landlord-tenant
Fair Housing Act
What it means in a real case.
Open →Assignment
What it means in a real case.
Open →Cure Or Quit
What it means in a real case.
Open →Discrimination
What it means in a real case.
Open →Eviction
What it means in a real case.
Open →Fixed-Term Tenancy
What it means in a real case.
Open →Habitability
What it means in a real case.
Open →Holdover Tenant
What it means in a real case.
Open →Housing
What it means in a real case.
Open →Implied Warranty Of Habitability
What it means in a real case.
Open →Landlord
What it means in a real case.
Open →Lease
What it means in a real case.
Open →Lease Termination
What it means in a real case.
Open →Month-To-Month Tenancy
What it means in a real case.
Open →Notice To Quit
What it means in a real case.
Open →Reasonable Accommodation
What it means in a real case.
Open →Rent
What it means in a real case.
Open →Rent Control
What it means in a real case.
Open →Rental Agreement
What it means in a real case.
Open →Repair And Deduct
What it means in a real case.
Open →Retaliatory Eviction
What it means in a real case.
Open →Security Deposit
What it means in a real case.
Open →Sublease
What it means in a real case.
Open →Summary Process
What it means in a real case.
Open →Tenant
What it means in a real case.
Open →Unlawful Detainer
What it means in a real case.
Open →Court procedure
Adjournment
What it means in a real case.
Open →Admonition
What it means in a real case.
Open →Attachment
What it means in a real case.
Open →Challenge For Cause
What it means in a real case.
Open →Change Of Venue
What it means in a real case.
Open →Class Action
What it means in a real case.
Open →Class Certification
What it means in a real case.
Open →Closing Argument
What it means in a real case.
Open →Conclusion Of Law
What it means in a real case.
Open →Consolidation
What it means in a real case.
Open →Continuance
What it means in a real case.
Open →Counterclaim
What it means in a real case.
Open →Cross-Claim
What it means in a real case.
Open →Decree
What it means in a real case.
Open →Default
What it means in a real case.
Open →Default Judgment
What it means in a real case.
Open →Default Judgment
What it means in a real case.
Open →Directed Verdict
What it means in a real case.
Open →Discovery
What it means in a real case.
Open →Estoppel
What it means in a real case.
Open →Finding Of Fact
What it means in a real case.
Open →Forum Non Conveniens
What it means in a real case.
Open →Garnishment
What it means in a real case.
Open →General Verdict
What it means in a real case.
Open →Impleader
What it means in a real case.
Open →In Camera
What it means in a real case.
Open →Injunction
What it means in a real case.
Open →Instructed Verdict
What it means in a real case.
Open →Interrogatories To Jury
What it means in a real case.
Open →Intervention
What it means in a real case.
Open →Joinder
What it means in a real case.
Open →Judgment
What it means in a real case.
Open →Judgment Lien
What it means in a real case.
Open →Judgment Notwithstanding Verdict
What it means in a real case.
Open →Jury Instructions
What it means in a real case.
Open →Jury Selection
What it means in a real case.
Open →Laches
What it means in a real case.
Open →Lis Pendens
What it means in a real case.
Open →Lis Pendens
What it means in a real case.
Open →Mistrial
What it means in a real case.
Open →Motion
What it means in a real case.
Open →Motion For Continuance
What it means in a real case.
Open →Motion For Directed Verdict
What it means in a real case.
Open →Motion For Judgment On Pleadings
What it means in a real case.
Open →Motion For Leave
What it means in a real case.
Open →Motion For New Trial
What it means in a real case.
Open →Motion For Protective Order
What it means in a real case.
Open →Motion For Reconsideration
What it means in a real case.
Open →Motion For Relief From Judgment
What it means in a real case.
Open →Motion For Sanctions
What it means in a real case.
Open →Motion For Summary Judgment
What it means in a real case.
Open →Motion To Amend
What it means in a real case.
Open →Motion To Compel
What it means in a real case.
Open →Motion To Dismiss
What it means in a real case.
Open →Motion To Quash
What it means in a real case.
Open →Motion To Strike
What it means in a real case.
Open →Notice Of Pendency
What it means in a real case.
Open →Opening Statement
What it means in a real case.
Open →Opt-In
What it means in a real case.
Open →Opt-Out
What it means in a real case.
Open →Peremptory Challenge
What it means in a real case.
Open →Preliminary Injunction
What it means in a real case.
Open →Recess
What it means in a real case.
Open →Remand
What it means in a real case.
Open →Removal
What it means in a real case.
Open →Res Judicata
What it means in a real case.
Open →Sequestration
What it means in a real case.
Open →Severance
What it means in a real case.
Open →Special Verdict
What it means in a real case.
Open →Standing
What it means in a real case.
Open →Statute Of Limitations
What it means in a real case.
Open →Statute Of Repose
What it means in a real case.
Open →Stipulation
What it means in a real case.
Open →Summary Judgment
What it means in a real case.
Open →Summons
What it means in a real case.
Open →Temporary Restraining Order
What it means in a real case.
Open →Third-Party Claim
What it means in a real case.
Open →Tolling
What it means in a real case.
Open →Transfer
What it means in a real case.
Open →Verdict
What it means in a real case.
Open →Voir Dire
What it means in a real case.
Open →Waiver
What it means in a real case.
Open →Waiver
What it means in a real case.
Open →Writ
What it means in a real case.
Open →Writ Of Attachment
What it means in a real case.
Open →Writ Of Execution
What it means in a real case.
Open →Writ Of Garnishment
What it means in a real case.
Open →Writ Of Mandamus
What it means in a real case.
Open →Writ Of Prohibition
What it means in a real case.
Open →Writ Of Replevin
What it means in a real case.
Open →Injury claims
Assault
What it means in a real case.
Open →Assumption Of Risk
What it means in a real case.
Open →Attractive Nuisance
What it means in a real case.
Open →Battery
What it means in a real case.
Open →Breach Of Duty
What it means in a real case.
Open →Causation
What it means in a real case.
Open →Comparative Fault
What it means in a real case.
Open →Comparative Negligence
What it means in a real case.
Open →Compensatory Damages
What it means in a real case.
Open →Contribution
What it means in a real case.
Open →Contributory Negligence
What it means in a real case.
Open →Conversion
What it means in a real case.
Open →Damages
What it means in a real case.
Open →Defamation
What it means in a real case.
Open →Duty Of Care
What it means in a real case.
Open →Duty To Warn
What it means in a real case.
Open →False Imprisonment
What it means in a real case.
Open →Informed Consent
What it means in a real case.
Open →Intentional Infliction Of Emotional Distress
What it means in a real case.
Open →Intentional Tort
What it means in a real case.
Open →Invasion Of Privacy
What it means in a real case.
Open →Joint And Several Liability
What it means in a real case.
Open →Last Clear Chance
What it means in a real case.
Open →Libel
What it means in a real case.
Open →Medical Malpractice
What it means in a real case.
Open →Negligence
What it means in a real case.
Open →Nuisance
What it means in a real case.
Open →Premises Liability
What it means in a real case.
Open →Product Liability
What it means in a real case.
Open →Proximate Cause
What it means in a real case.
Open →Punitive Damages
What it means in a real case.
Open →Punitive Damages
What it means in a real case.
Open →Res Ipsa Loquitur
What it means in a real case.
Open →Several Liability
What it means in a real case.
Open →Slander
What it means in a real case.
Open →Slip And Fall
What it means in a real case.
Open →Standard Of Care
What it means in a real case.
Open →Strict Liability
What it means in a real case.
Open →Tort
What it means in a real case.
Open →Tortious Interference
What it means in a real case.
Open →General explanations, not legal advice. Procedures vary by state and court.