All A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P R S T U V W

For glossary terms in American Sign Language, you can view these Midwest Center on Law and the Deaf videos.

Emancipate

When a child under the age of 18 asks a judge to become a legal adult. Child wants to be removed from the care and control of their parents.

Emotional distress

Serious mental suffering or anxiety

Enforce

Taking legal steps to make someone do what the court tells them to do

Enjoin

To order or require that an action be stopped

Equity

Amount that is left after a person pays off their loan

Estate

All of the property a person owns at their death

Eviction

A court case brought by a landlord to get a tenant to move out

Evidence

Anything used to show that something is true

Executor

Person in charge of giving out the property left in a will

Exhibit

A document introduced as evidence in a trial

Expungement

When a criminal record is destroyed

E-filing

Short for "electronic filing." You file court papers using a computer instead of handing them to the clerk in person. This is required in Illinois as of 1/1/18.

Emergency certification

A way to get someone admitted to a mental health facility without a court hearing

Expunge

To physically remove someone's name from a legal record.

Embezzlement

The misuse of money or property entrusted to one's care, custody, or control.

Extortion

To obtain something of value through coercive means.

Exemptions

In bankruptcy, property that you can protect from creditors. In property taxes, an amount that reduces the value of your home that is used to calculate property taxes owed.