Terms Used In Arizona Laws > Title 22 > Chapter 5 - Small Claims Divisions of Justice Courts

• Answer: The formal written statement by a defendant responding to a civil complaint and setting forth the grounds for defense.
• Appeal: A request made after a trial, asking another court (usually the court of appeals) to decide whether the trial was conducted properly. To make such a request is "to appeal" or "to take an appeal." One who appeals is called the appellant.
• Assets: (1) The property comprising the estate of a deceased person, or (2) the property in a trust account.
• Attorney-at-law: A person who is legally qualified and licensed to practice law, and to represent and act for clients in legal proceedings.
• Authorized delegate: means a person that a licensee designates to engage in money transmission on behalf of the licensee pursuant to article 1 of this chapter. See Arizona Laws 6-1241
• Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
• Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
• Counterclaim: A claim that a defendant makes against a plaintiff.
• Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
• Department: means the department of insurance and financial institutions. See Arizona Laws 6-101
• Deputy director: means the deputy director of the financial institutions division of the department. See Arizona Laws 6-101
• Financial institution: means banks, trust companies, savings and loan associations, credit unions, consumer lenders, international banking facilities and financial institution holding companies under the jurisdiction of the department. See Arizona Laws 6-101
• Liabilities: The aggregate of all debts and other legal obligations of a particular person or legal entity.
• Licensee: means a person that is licensed under article 1 of this chapter. See Arizona Laws 6-1241
• Lien: A claim against real or personal property in satisfaction of a debt.
• Money transmitter: means a person that meets the definition of a bank, financial agency or financial institution as prescribed by 31 United States Code § 5312 or 31 C. See Arizona Laws 6-1241
• Partnership: A voluntary contract between two or more persons to pool some or all of their assets into a business, with the agreement that there will be a proportional sharing of profits and losses.
• Plaintiff: The person who files the complaint in a civil lawsuit.
• Pleadings: Written statements of the parties in a civil case of their positions. In the federal courts, the principal pleadings are the complaint and the answer.
• Process: means a citation, writ or summons issued in the course of judicial proceedings. See Arizona Laws 1-215
• small claims division: means a forum in justice courts in which procedures shall allow the inexpensive, speedy and informal resolution of small claims. See Arizona Laws 22-501
• Summons: Another word for subpoena used by the criminal justice system.
• Tort: A civil wrong or breach of a duty to another person, as outlined by law. A very common tort is negligent operation of a motor vehicle that results in property damage and personal injury in an automobile accident.
• Venue: The geographical location in which a case is tried.