Legal language should not require a secret decoder ring.

LawAdministrative hearingAn administrative hearing is a formal review before an agency hearing officer or similar decision-maker rather than an ordinary trial court.Explain → LawAnswerAn answer is a formal response to a complaint or petition.Explain → LawAppealAn appeal asks a higher court to review alleged legal or procedural errors in a lower court’s decision.Explain → LawArkansas Freedom of Information Act requestAn Arkansas FOIA request asks a covered public body for existing public records.Explain → LawBurden of proofThe burden of proof identifies who must prove a claim and how convincing the evidence must be.Explain → LawChild custodyChild custody concerns legal decision-making and where a child lives.Explain → LawCourt orderA court order is a judge’s written or oral direction that the parties are expected to follow.Explain → LawDefault judgmentA default judgment may be entered when a party fails to respond or participate as required, but procedural requirements still must be satisfied.Explain → LawDependency-neglect caseA dependency-neglect case is an Arkansas juvenile court proceeding concerning whether a child is at substantial risk of serious harm because of abuse, neglect, abandonment, parental unfitness, or other statutory grounds.Explain → LawDismissal without prejudiceA dismissal without prejudice ends the current case or claim without necessarily preventing a corrected or timely new filing.Explain → LawDue processDue process generally means the government must use fair procedures before taking away protected life, liberty, or property interests.Explain → LawEvictionEviction is a legal process for recovering possession of rental property.Explain → LawFailure to vacateIn Arkansas, “failure to vacate” can refer to a specific criminal process connected to nonpayment of rent.Explain → LawGarnishmentGarnishment is a legal process that directs a third party, such as an employer or bank, to withhold property or money to satisfy a debt or judgment.Explain → LawGuardianshipGuardianship is a court-created legal relationship authorizing one person to make specified decisions for another person who cannot fully do so.Explain → LawHearsayHearsay generally means an out-of-court statement offered to prove the truth of what the statement says.Explain → LawIn forma pauperisIn forma pauperis is a request to proceed without prepaying some court costs because the person cannot afford them.Explain → LawIneffective assistance of counselThis claim generally requires showing both seriously deficient attorney performance and legally sufficient prejudice.Explain →