In the fall of 2024, the Arizona Department of Child Safety (DCS) mailed letters to parents who once had an open dependency and/or severance case.
Did you receive a letter? Visit the DCS letter page for more information.
Legal Term Glossary
General Legal Terms
Glossaries
| Term | Main definition |
|---|---|
| Sentence | Punishment set by the court within the range of punishments authorized by statute. |
| Settlement | An agreement that provides satisfaction to one or both individuals in a civil lawsuit in return for dismissal of the case. |
| Small Claims Court | Special division court at each justice court to legally resolve claims that do not exceed $3,500. The proceedings are less formal than in other types of courts and individuals usually represent themselves. |
| Statute | Law enacted by the Legislature and published as the Arizona Revised Statutes (A.R.S.). |
| Subpoena | An order to compel someone to come to a court at a certain date and time; there are penalties if that person does not come to court. Subpoena duces tecum is the technical name for a subpoena for production of evidence. |
| Summons | A document given to a sheriff or other officer that tells the person named in the summons that a lawsuit has been started against them in court, and what day and time they have to show up at court. |
| Supersedeas Bond | A bond or amount of money, usually the amount of the judgment, that stays with the court while an appeal is in process. |