Legal Terms and Definitions

Glossary of Legal Terms

Costs An allowance for expenses in prosecuting or defending a suit. Ordinarily this does not include attorney fees. Plaintiff A person who files a lawsuit. Child abuse Any form of cruelty to a child's physical, moral or mental well-being. Deprivation of custody The court transfers legal custody of a person from parents or legal guardian to another person, agency or institution. It may be temporary or permanent. Entrapment In criminal procedures, a complete defense. The defendant must show that officers induced the defendant to commit a crime not contemplated by him, for the purpose of instituting a criminal prosecution against him. Corroborating evidence Evidence supplementary to that already given and tending to strengthen or confirm it. Abstract of record A short, abbreviated form of the case as found in the record. Of counsel A phrase commonly applied to counsel employed to assist in the preparation or management of the case, or its presentation on appeal, but who is not the principal attorney for the party.

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