Glossary beginning with C
- Case number
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A number assigned to a case that is on every paper filed in the case
- Certified copy
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A document sworn to be true by the circuit clerk stamping it
- Certified mail
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A document delivery service that sends you a receipt as proof that the documents were delivered
- Child support
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Money paid by a parent to help another parent support a minor child or children
- Child support order
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A decision by a court telling a parent to pay child support
- Circuit clerk
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The office that takes care of files and documents for court cases
- Circuit court
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The lowest level of court in Illinois
- Citation to discover assets
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An order from the court for a person to come to court to be questioned under oath about how much money they have and property they own
- Civil cover sheet
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A form filed by the plaintiff with the complaint at the start of a lawsuit
- Civil procedure
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Rules you must follow when you're participating in a lawsuit
- Claimant
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A person who demands something from another individual
- Co-payments
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Money paid for health care in addition to what the insurer pays
- Codefendant
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A person who is charged with the same crime or sued in the same case
- Cohabitants
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People who live together
- Collateral
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Property you promise to give up if you don’t repay a loan
- Compensation
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Payment for work done or damage suffered
- Complainant
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Another word for plaintiff or a person that files a lawsuit
- Complaint
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A written statement to start a lawsuit that says what the defendant did
- Compulsory
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Required
- Consent
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When someone gives permission for someone else to do something
- Consent foreclosure
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An agreement for land to be foreclosed or sold by the lender
- Consortium
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The duties and rights involved in marriage
- Contempt of court
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When someone violates a court order or disrespects the court
- Contested case
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When both sides to a case present opposing arguments and evidence
- Contingent fee
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When a lawyer is paid from the money their client won or recieved
- Continuance
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When the judge delays the trial or hearing
- Contributory negligence
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When someone's own acts resulted in them being harmed
- Conviction
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When someone is declared guilty of a crime by a court
- Cosign
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To sign a loan with another person and share the responsibility that it will be paid back
- Cotenants
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Two or more people renting the same property
- Counsel
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Another name for a lawyer
- Counterclaim
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A claim brought by a defendant against a plaintiff
- Court costs
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The fees for going to court, including filing, serving, and getting transcripts
- Courtesy copies
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A copy of a document given to the judge
- Creditor
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Someone who is owed money