Legal terms, explained plainly
The words in contracts, court, and legal notices, decoded - each one links to its full plain-English definition.
A written promise that you swear is true, signed in front of someone who can confirm you're telling the truth.
A request to a higher court to change a decision made by a lower one.
When two sides who can't agree let a neutral person decide for them instead of going to court.
Someone who is being taken to court because they are accused of doing something wrong.
A formal, sworn conversation outside of court, written down to use later in a legal case.
A formal charge that someone has committed a crime, usually decided by a grand jury.
A court order telling someone to stop doing something or to do something specific.
The official right a place or group has to make and enforce rules and decide what's fair.
Something you owe or are legally responsible for, like a debt or a duty.
A claim on someone else's property that lets you take it if they don't pay back what they owe.
When people use the courts to solve a disagreement, usually by suing someone or being sued.
Not taking enough care to do something properly, so it leads to mistakes or harm.
The person or group who starts a legal case by saying someone else did them wrong.
A statement in court where a person says if they admit to the crime or say they didn't do it.
The court process that checks if a will is real before giving out the person's belongings.
A rule made by a government that people must follow.
A legal paper that forces someone to go to court to give their side of the story.
When someone does something that hurts you or breaks a rule meant to protect people.
A final decision about whether someone is guilty or not guilty in a court case.
A paper from a judge that lets police enter a place or arrest someone when they have good reason to suspect a crime.