Category: dictionaries

An agreement between two or more people that creates an obligation to do or not to do a particular thing. Source: US […]

A judgment of guilt against a criminal defendant. Source: US Courts Glossary

Legal advice; a term also used to refer to the lawyers in a case. Source: US Courts Glossary

An allegation in an indictment or information, charging a defendant with a crime. An indictment or information may contain allegations that the […]

A person who makes a word-for-word record of what is said in court, generally by using a stenographic machine, shorthand or audio […]

Government entity authorized to resolve legal disputes. Judges sometimes use “court” to refer to themselves in the third person, as in “the […]

Generally refers to two events in individual bankruptcy cases: (1) the “individual or group briefing” from a nonprofit budget and credit counseling […]

A person to whom or business to which the debtor owes money or that claims to be owed money by the debtor. […]

Money that a defendant pays a plaintiff in a civil case if the plaintiff has won. Damages may be compensatory (for loss […]

Latin, meaning “in fact” or “actually.” Something that exists in fact but not as a matter of law. Source: US Courts Glossary

Latin, meaning “in law.” Something that exists by operation of law. Source: US Courts Glossary

Latin, meaning “anew.” A trial de novo is a completely new trial. Appellate review de novo implies no deference to the trial […]

A debtor’s detailed description of how the debtor proposes to pay creditors’ claims over a fixed period of time. Source: US Courts […]

A person who has filed a petition for relief under the Bankruptcy Code. Source: US Courts Glossary

A judge’s statement about someone’s rights. For example, a plaintiff may seek a declaratory judgment that a particular statute, as written, violates […]

A judgment awarding a plaintiff the relief sought in the complaint because the defendant has failed to appear in court or otherwise […]

An individual (or business) against whom a lawsuit is filed. Source: US Courts Glossary

An oral statement made before an officer authorized by law to administer oaths. Such statements are often taken to examine potential witnesses, […]

A release of a debtor from personal liability for certain dischargeable debts. Notable exceptions to dischargeability are taxes and student loans. A […]

The chapter of the Bankruptcy Code providing for adjustment of debts of a “family farmer” or “family fisherman,” as the terms are […]

A person appointed to administer a Chapter 13 case. A Chapter 13 trustee’s responsibilities are similar to those of a Chapter 7 […]

The chapter of the Bankruptcy Code providing for the adjustment of debts of an individual with regular income, often referred to as […]

The chapter of the Bankruptcy Code dealing with cases of cross-border insolvency. Source: US Courts Glossary

A person appointed in a Chapter 7 case to represent the interests of the bankruptcy estate and the creditors. The trustee’s responsibilities […]

The chapter of the Bankruptcy Code providing for “liquidation,” that is, the sale of a debtor’s nonexempt property and the distribution of […]