Common Legal Terminology
Probation -
- Sentencing option in the federal courts. With probation, instead of sending an individual to prison, the court releases the person to the community and orders him or her to complete a period of supervision monitored by a U.S. probation officer and to abide by certain conditions.
Probation officer -
- Officers of the probation office of a court. Probation officer duties include conducting presentence investigations, preparing presentence reports on convicted defendants, and supervising released defendants.
Procedure -
- The rules for conducting a lawsuit; there are rules of civil procedure, criminal procedure, evidence, bankruptcy, and appellate procedure.
Proof of claim -
- A written statement describing the reason a debtor owes a creditor money, which typically sets forth the amount of money owed. (There is an official form for this purpose.)
Property of the estate -
- All legal or equitable interests of the debtor in property as of the commencement of the case.
Prosecute -
- To charge someone with a crime. A prosecutor tries a criminal case on behalf of the government
Reaffirmation agreement -
- An agreement by a debtor to continue paying a dischargeable debt after the bankruptcy, usually for the purpose of keeping collateral or mortgaged property that would otherwise be subject to repossession.
Record -
- A written account of the proceedings in a case, including all pleadings, evidence, and exhibits submitted in the course of the case.
Redemption -
- A procedure in a Chapter 7 case whereby a debtor removes a secured creditor’s lien on collateral by paying the creditor the value of the property. The debtor may then retain the property.
Remand -
- Send back.
All terms and definitions on this page are from uscourts.gov/glossary (April 13, 2020)