Legal Documents
legally binding agreement between two or more parties
contract
The term for a jury's formal decision made in a civil or criminal case
verdict
This is an agreement in a criminal case where the defendant pleads guilty to a lesser charge or receives a reduced sentence, often avoiding a trial.
What is a plea deal?
This amendment protects individuals from unreasonable searches and seizures and requires law enforcement to obtain a warrant based on probable cause.
What is the Fourth Amendment?
After a court has fully heard a case and made a decision resolving all claims and disputes between the parties, this document is issued, officially ending the case in that court.
Final judgement
This document is prepared by a lawyer to analyze a legal issue, summarize the relevant facts, statutes, and case law, and provide recommendations or conclusions.
What is a legal memorandum?
An affidavit must be signed in the presence of this certified individual.
Who is a notary public?
This type of law is established by judicial decisions in courts rather than by statutes or regulations, and it serves as precedent for future cases.
What is case law?
I’m the overall process of taking a case through court.
What is litigation?
A lawyer collects sworn statements from witnesses before trial. What process is this?
A deposition
This legal document outlines how a person’s property and assets will be distributed after their death and can also name guardians for minor children.
What is a last will and testament?
This person records transcripts of court proceedings
Court reporter
Lawyers may use information gathered during this pre-trial process to prepare their case.
What is a deposition?
Legal document that transfers ownership of real property from one person to another
deed
Someone is in a coma and they can not make any decisions regarding their finances or legal issues. Who would make decisions on their behalf
Power of attorney
This official verifies and certifies signatures on important documents.
Who is a notary public?
What is the bill of rights
the first ten amendments of the constitution of the united states
This process involves filing, defending, and resolving a lawsuit.
What is litigation?
I help assist the attorney with legal tasks
Paralegal
A person signs a written oath saying their statement is true for use in court. What is it?
An affidavit
When sensitive information — like Social Security numbers or addresses — is blacked out or removed from a legal document before it’s shared, this process is called what?
What is redaction?
These are the formal written documents filed by the parties in a lawsuit, such as the complaint and the answer, that state each side’s claims and defenses.
Pleadings
During a lawsuit, both the plaintiff and defendant are required to share evidence with each other before the trial. This pre-trial process allows lawyers to request documents, ask written questions, and interview witnesses to prepare their case. What is this?
Discovery
This official court record lists all the filings, hearings, and actions taken in a case — for example, entries like “Complaint Filed – 01/10/2025” and “Summons Issued – 01/15/2025.”
Docket
Two companies have a disagreement about a contract. Instead of going to court, they agree to have a neutral third party listen to both sides and make a binding decision. What is this ?
arbitration