Glossary of Legal Terms
Common terms used by courts and in court forms.
In addition to the glossary terms shown below, the New Hampshire Judicial Branch provides a list of legal definitions used in NH courts.
- Abandoned Property
- Abatement
- Abrogate
- Absolute Divorce
- Abstract of Judgment
- Acceleration Clause
- Accomplice
- Accrual
- Accused
- Acknowledgment of Satisfaction of Judgment
- Acquittal
- Active Judge
- Active Status
- Actual Damages
- Ad Litem
- Adhesion Contract
- Adjournment
- Adjudicate
- Adjudication
- Administrative Procedure
- Admissible
- Admissible Evidence
- Admonish
- Admonition to Jury
- Alternative Dispute Resolution
- Adversary Proceeding
- Adversary System
- Adverse Witness
- Affidavit
- Affirmative Defense
- Alibi
- Alimony
- Allegation
- Allege
- Alternate Juror
- Alternative Dispute Resolution
- Amicus Curiae
- Annulment
- Anonymous
- Appellant
- Appellate
- Appellate Court
- Appellee
- Arbitration
- Arraignment
- Arrearage
- Arrest
- Arrest record/criminal record
- Article III Judge
- Ascertained
- Assignee
- Assignment of Support Rights
- Assignment Order
- At Issue Memorandum
- Attorney of Record
- Automated Voice Response System
- Automatic Stay
- Bail Bond
- Bail Exoneration
- Bail Forfeiture
- Bail Notice
- Bail Receipt
- Bail Schedule
- Bailiff
- Bank Levy
- Bankruptcy
- Bankruptcy Code
- Bankruptcy Court
- Bankruptcy Estate
- Bankruptcy Judge
- Bankruptcy Petition
- Bankruptcy Trustee
- Bench Trial
- Bench Warrant
- Best Interest of the Child
- Bind Over
- Blocked Account
- Bona Fide
- Breath Test
- Burden of Proof
- Burglary
- Business Bankruptcy
- Capital Offense
- Case File
- Case ID
- Case Law
- Case Number
- Caseflow Management
- Caseload
- Cause of Action
- Caveat Emptor
- Certified Copy
- Challenge for Cause
- Chambers
- Change of Venue
- Chapter 7 Bankruptcy
- Chapter 7 Trustee
- Chapter 9 Bankruptcy
- Chapter 11 Bankruptcy
- Chapter 12 Bankruptcy
- Chapter 13 Bankruptcy
- Chapter 13 Trustee
- Chapter 15 Bankruptcy
- Chattel
- Chief Judge
- Child Abuse
- Child Advocate
- Child Custody
- Child Custody Evaluation
- Child Maltreatment
- Child Neglect
- Child Support
- Civil Action
- Civil Rights
- Class Action
- Class of Offense
- Clerk of Court
- Collateral
- Common Law
- Community Service
- Concurrent Sentence
- Consecutive Sentence
- Consumer Bankruptcy
- Consumer Debts
- Contingent Claim
- Contingent Fee
- Conviction
- Corroborative Witness
- Counsel
- Court record
- Court Reporter
- Creditor
- Criminal Complaint
- De Facto
- De Jure
- De Novo
- Debtor
- Debtor’s Plan
- Declaratory Judgment
- Default Judgment
- Defendant
- Deferment Window
- Deferred Sentence
- Deposition
- Devisee
- Dischargeable Debt
- Disclosure Statement
- Dismissal With Prejudice
- Dismissal Without Prejudice
- Disposable Income
- Disposition
- Dissenting Opinion
- Docket
- Docket Number
- Due Process
- Emancipation
- en Banc
- Equitable
- Eviction
- Evictions
- Ex Parte
- Exclusionary Rule
- Exculpatory Clause
- Exculpatory Evidence
- Executory Contracts
- Exempt Assets
- Exempt Property
- Extended Term of Imprisonment
- Face Sheet Filing
- Fair Hearing
- Fair Market Value
- Family Farmer
- Federal Public Defender
- Federal Public Defender Organization
- Federal Question Jurisdiction
- Felony
- Foreclosure
- Fraudulent Transfer
- Garnishment of Property
- Garnishment of Wages
- Good Behavior
- Grand Jury
- Grounds for Divorce
- Guardian
- Guardian at Litem
- Habeas Corpus
- Hearsay
- Heir
- Holographic Will
- Home Confinement
- Impeachment
- in Camera
- in Forma Pauperis
- in Loco Parentis
- in Re
- Inculpatory Evidence
- Indictment
- Inheritance
- Injunction
- Interrogatories
- Intestate
- Joint Administration
- Joint Petition
- Judgeship
- Jurisdiction
- Jurisprudence
- Jury Instructions
- Landlord
- Law Firm
- Lawsuit
- Lease
- Lease Option Agreement
- Legal Custody
- Legal Seperation
- Lessee
- Lessor
- Letter of Attorney
- Lexis
- Liability
- Licensee
- Lien
- Limited Divorce
- Liquidated Claim
- Liquidated Damages
- Liquidation
- Litigant
- Litigation
- Living Will
- Magistrate Judge
- Marital Property
- Material Breach
- Means Test
- Mediation
- Memorandum Opinion
- Mental Health Treatment
- Misdemeanor
- Mistrial
- Moeny Judgment
- Mortgage
- Motion in Limine
- Motion to Lift the Automatic Stay
- Mutual Wills
- No-Asset Case
- Nol Pros
- Nolo Contendere
- Nondischargeable Debt
- Nonexempt Assets
- Not Guilty
- Notary Public
- Notice of Default
- Notice of Petition
- Notice to Quit
- Oath
- Objection to Dischargeability
- Objection to Exemptions
- Occupant
- Oral Argument
- Ordinance
- Party in Interest
- Per Curiam
- Peremptory Challenge
- Perjury
- Personal Property
- Personal Representative
- Petit Jury
- Petition
- Petition Preparer
- Petitioner
- Petty Offense
- Physical Custody
- Placed on file without a finding
- Plaintiff
- Pleadings
- Postpetition Transfer
- Power of Attorney
- Pre-Bankruptcy Planning
- Precedent
- Preferential Debt Payment
- Presentence Report
- Pretrial Conference
- Pretrial Services
- Prima Facie
- Primary Caretaker
- Priority Claim
- Pro Per
- Pro Se
- Pro Tem
- Probate
- Probation
- Probation Officer
- Process Server
- Proof of Claim
- Property of the Estate
- Prosecute
- Protection Order
- Quitclaim Deed
- Reaffirmation Agreement
- Record/Record Extract
- Remand
- Renewal of Summons
- Res Judicata
- Rescind
- Restraining Order
- Secured Creditor
- Secured Debt
- Security Deposit
- Senior Judge
- Sentence
- Sentencing Guidelines
- Separate Property
- Separation Agreement
- Sequester
- Service of Process
- Shall
- Small Business Case
- Spouse
- Squatter
- Stand Committed
- Standard of Proof
- Stare Decisis
- Statement of Financial Affairs
- Statement of Intention
- Statute
- Statute of Limitations
- Sua Sponte
- Sublease
- Subordination
- Subpoena
- Subpoena Duces Tecum
- Subsidy
- Substance Abuse Treatment
- Substantial Abuse
- Substantive Consolidation
- Summary Judgment
- Supervised Release
- Suspended Time
- Suspension Window
- Temporary Restraining Order
- Tenancy
- Tenant
- Testator
- Testimony
- Third Party Claim
- Tort
- Trespass
- Trial Jury
- Typing Service
- U.S. Attorney
- U.S. Trustee
- Uncontested Divorce
- Undersecured Claim
- Undue Hardship
- Undue Influence
- Unlawful Detainer Action
- Unliquidated Claim
- Unscheduled Debt
- Unsecured Claim
- Usury
- Verdict
- Violation Level Offense
- Voir Dire
- Voluntary Separation
- Voluntary Transfer
- Wage Garnishment
- Warrant of Restitution
- Writ
- Writ of Attachment
- Writ of Certiorari
- Writ of Possession
- Writ of Summons