Term | Main definition |
---|---|
Civil Law | Area of law that deals with disputes between individuals, not involving crimes. |
Claim | Legal and factual grounds for a court to grant relief. |
Clearinghouse | A central location that receives, disburses and monitors IV-D support payments. |
Clerk of the Court | An appointed or elected person who is in charge of keeping records, accounts and managing regular activities for a court. |
Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) | Rules implementing federal laws. In IV-D, these rules are contained in 45 CFR Part 300-399. |
Complaint | Legal paper telling the court and the defendant what the claims of the plaintiff are. This document is filed with the court at the beginning of a case. |
Conciliation Court | A branch of the Superior Court to which a spouse may apply in an effort to preserve a marriage or from whom a parent may request assistance in settling disputes regarding children. Services provided may include: parent education classes, counseling, mediation, parenting conferences, evaluations, and parenting coordination. |
Conclusions of Law | The decision made by the judge by applying the law to the facts of the case. |
Constable | An elected official whose primary duty is to deliver and return legal notices and documents as directed by a Justice of the Peace. |
Contempt | A willful disregard or disobedience of the order of the court. |
Contested Case | An action in which the defendant opposes the relief sought by the plaintiff. |
Continuance | Postponement (delay) of a court hearing. |
Contract | An agreement that may be enforceable through a court action. |
Conviction | A decision by the judge or a verdict by the jury determining that a person charged with a criminal offense is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. |
Counsel | See Lawyer or Attorney at Law in this Glossary. |
Counterclaim | A claim asserted by a defendant against the plaintiff. |
County Attorney | Attorney elected in each county to prosecute criminal cases on behalf of the public and to represent the county in civil matters. |
Court Administrator | Person who assists the presiding judge in managing the court. |
Court Commissioner | Person with authority to do the job of a judge in certain types of cases. |
Court of Record | Courts in which a record is made of all proceedings. Justice of the Peace and Municipal Courts are not courts of record, but they sometimes do keep records of court proceedings. |