Legal Terms and Definitions

Glossary of Legal Terms

Decree A decision or order of the court. A final decree is one, which fully and finally disposes of the litigation. An interlocutory decree is a preliminary decree, which is not final. Privileged communications Confidential communications to certain persons that are protected by law against any disclosure, including forced disclosure in legal proceedings. Communications between lawyer and client, physician and patient, psychotherapist and patient, priest, minister or rabbi and penitent are typically privileged. Liability A legal responsibility, obligation, or debt. Challenge to the array Questioning the qualifications of an entire jury panel, usually on the grounds of partiality or some fault in the process of summoning the panel. Estoppel A person's own act, or acceptance of facts, which preclude later claims to the contrary. Default Occurs when a defendant fails to respond to the plaintiff's complaint within the time allowed, or fails to appear at the trial. The court may then enter a default judgment Bench trial Trial without a jury in which the judge decides the case Nominal party One, who is joined as a party or defendant merely because the technical rules of pleading require his presence in the record,

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	Did You Know?
	Mediation is a process that involves a mediator Neutral third party who helps the disputing parties achieve a resolution that satisfies both of them. The mediator's primary function is to create constructive communication between parties and provide a forum where disputants can create a mutually satisfactory agreement. Mediators do not impose decisions; instead, they help people craft solutions that will work for them.