Legal language is well known for its unusual words and terms. It is very difficult for a common person to understand the meaning of the words that are used in legal language.

1. Difficult Words
and Terms in
Legal
Transcription
Difficult Words and Terms in Legal
Transcription
By: Beth Worthy

2. No doubt, one of the things that make legal language toughest
to understand is its unusual words and jargons.
Some legal terms such as - judge, court, interrogation etc. are
relatively well known, where as others are a complete mystery
to non-professionals.

3. Here we are defining a few difficult legal words and terms. By
knowing them, transcribing legal documents will become easier for
you.

4. Arbitration
A method of alternative dispute
resolution in which the disputing
parties agree to abide by the decision of
an arbitrator. In general terms we can
say that arbitration is a technique of
resolving disputes outside the court.

5. Assignment
The transfer of legal rights from
one person to another. It refers to
the transfer of rights held by one
party i.e. the assignor to another
party i.e. the assignee.

6. Bankruptcy
This is a process governed by the
federal law to help people, when
they cannot or will not pay their
bills. It means that Bankruptcy is
the legal status of a person or an
entity that are incapable of
repaying the debt to the creditor.

7. Bifurcation
Splitting a trial into two parts: a liability phase and a penalty
phase.
Generally the judge’s get power to split trial into two parts to
render judgement on a particular set of legal issues without
looking at the other aspect. It is done so for various reasons like
convenience, to avoid prejudice, or to expedite and economize.

8. Certiorari
It refers to the order of a court for
reviewing the decision made. It is
actually issued by a superior court
and instructing an inferior court,
tribunal or other public authority to
send the record of proceedings so
that the upper court may review the
judgement.

9. {
Deed
A written legal instrument that describes a piece of property and outlines its
boundaries.

10. Defamation
The publication of a statement that
injures a person’s reputation.
Written defamation is called
“libel” and spoken defamation is
called “slander”.
Defamation
The publication of the statement that

11. Deposition
It is a process in which a witness
testifies under oath, before trial. It
means that a statement under
promise is taken down in writing to
be used in the court, instead of the
spoken evidence of the witness.

12. Escrow
The deed of a property will be in escrow (in pending), until the
completion of the real estate transaction. It means a
contractual agreement in which the third party holds and
disburse money or document for the principal transacting
parties on the conditions agreed by the parties.

13. .
Foreclosure
When a borrower cannot repay a
loan and the lender seeks to sell the
property. It is a legal condition in
which the lender tries to recover the
balance of loan from the borrower by
forcing the sale of the property used
as a collateral against the loan.

14. Immunity
Exemption from a legal duty or penalty. Generally it is of three
types:
 An oath not to accuse for a crime in exchange for information or
testimony in a criminal matter, granted by the prosecutors, a judge,
or an investigating legislative committee.
 Public officials protection from liability for their decisions.
 Governmental immunity which protects government agencies from
lawsuits .
 Diplomatic immunity which excuses foreign ambassadors from
most U.S. criminal laws.

15. Implied
warranty
A guarantee imposed by law in a
sale. It is a contract law for
certain assurance that will be
implemented during the sale of
product or property.

16. Intestate
To die without a will. Intestate refers to the condition where a
person dies without leaving a valid will.

17. Plaintiff
The person who initiates a
lawsuit.

18. Pro se
A person who represents himself in the court alone without
the help of a lawyer.

19. Quash
To nullify or to declare invalid.

20. Slander
Defamatory oral statements and
gestures.

21. Subpoena
An order compelling a person to
appear in court or to produce
documents.

22. Suvoir Dire
Means speak the truth.

23. THANK YOU
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