Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Letter E: Legal terms

Escrow: money paid into an account in the name of a third party which is then released once certain conditions have been fulfilled

Estate: a person's assets minus their liabilities at any given time

Evidence: everything used to determine the assertion of truth

Executor: person named in a will to dispense the estate person, this is not to be confused with the beneficiary

Exhibit: evidence and or documents provided to a court to support a claim

These terms are brought to you by the Atlanta Accident Attorneys.

Monday, December 1, 2008

Legal Definitions: Letter D

Damages: money paid to someone who has suffered injury or loss as a result of an action by a third party

Debtor: someone who owes money to a creditor

Decision: the verdict of a court in a case

Deed: a written legal document describing a piece of property and setting out the boundaries of that property

Default: is the failure to do something required of you under contract – an obligation. Ordinarily the obligation is to pay money, which is what you do not pay, would mean you are in default of the contract

Defendant: person who has charges to answer (criminal), or is being sued (civil)

Defined Benefit/Contribution Plan: a defined benefit plan and a defined contribution plan are forms of 401(k) retirement plans there are restrictions on how and when a person can withdraw money

Deposition: witness testimony under oath and recorded for a later date

Discovery: the process, pre-trial, where each party to a case will ask for documentation and information relevant to their case

Dismissal: the termination of a case

Double Jeopardy: is the process of being tried twice for the same crime/offense, this is a process prohibited by the 5th Amendment

Due Process: according to The U.S Constitution, "[no] person shall be ... deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law".

These terms are brought to you by the Atlanta Accident Attorneys.