Terms Used In Indiana Code > Title 31 > Article 34 - Juvenile Law: Children in Need of Services

• Affidavit: A written statement of facts confirmed by the oath of the party making it, before a notary or officer having authority to administer oaths.
• Amortization: Paying off a loan by regular installments.
• 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.
• Appellate: About appeals; an appellate court has the power to review the judgement of another lower court or tribunal.
• Appropriation: The provision of funds, through an annual appropriations act or a permanent law, for federal agencies to make payments out of the Treasury for specified purposes. The formal federal spending process consists of two sequential steps: authorization
• Attorney: includes a counselor or other person authorized to appear and represent a party in an action or special proceeding. See Indiana Code 1-1-4-5
• Authority: means a hospital authority created by IC 5-1-4-4 or any board, body, commission, department, or officer succeeding to the principal functions thereof or to whom the powers conferred upon such authority by this chapter shall be given by law. See Indiana Code 5-1-4-3
• Bailiff: a court officer who enforces the rules of behavior in courtrooms.
• Bonds: means bonds of the authority issued under this chapter, including refunding bonds, notwithstanding that the same may be secured by the full faith and credit of a participating hospital or any other lawfully pledged security of a participating hospital. See Indiana Code 5-1-4-3
• Clerk: means the clerk of the court or a person authorized to perform the clerk's duties. See Indiana Code 1-1-4-5
• 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.
• Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
• Cross examine: Questioning of a witness by the attorney for the other side.
• Dependent: A person dependent for support upon another.
• Dismissal: The dropping of a case by the judge without further consideration or hearing. ^Source:
• electronic signature: has the meaning set forth in IC 26-2-8-102(10);

  Indiana Code 5-1-3-1

• Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
• Fiduciary: A trustee, executor, or administrator.
• Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
• in writing: include printing, lithographing, or other mode of representing words and letters. See Indiana Code 1-1-4-5
• Judgment: means all final orders, decrees, and determinations in an action and all orders upon which executions may issue. See Indiana Code 1-1-4-5
• Lease: A contract transferring the use of property or occupancy of land, space, structures, or equipment in consideration of a payment (e.g., rent). ^{Source: OCC}
• minor: means a person less than eighteen (18) years of age. See Indiana Code 1-1-4-5
• Month: means a calendar month, unless otherwise expressed. See Indiana Code 1-1-4-5
• Mortgage: The written agreement pledging property to a creditor as collateral for a loan.
• Oath: includes "affirmation" and "to swear" includes to "affirm". See Indiana Code 1-1-4-5
• Oath: A promise to tell the truth.
• Obligation: An order placed, contract awarded, service received, or similar transaction during a given period that will require payments during the same or a future period.
• obligations: shall include any bond, note, warrant, or other obligation; and

  Indiana Code 5-1-3-1

• Participating hospital: means a:

  Indiana Code 5-1-4-3

• 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.
• Probable cause: A reasonable ground for belief that the offender violated a specific law.
• Probate: Proving a will
• Probation: A sentencing alternative to imprisonment in which the court releases convicted defendants under supervision as long as certain conditions are observed.
• Project: means a structure or addition to an existing structure which is suitable for use as a hospital, clinic, laboratory, laundry, nurses' or interns' residence, administration building, research facility, or maintenance, storage, or utility facility, and other structures or facilities related thereto or required or useful for the operation of the project, including the site thereof; parking and other facilities or structures essential or convenient for the orderly operation of such project, or equipment, machinery, and other similar items necessary or convenient for the operation of the project in the manner for which its use is intended, but not such items as fuel, supplies, or other items which customarily result in a current operating charge. See Indiana Code 5-1-4-3
• Property: includes personal and real property. See Indiana Code 1-1-4-5
• public entity: shall include any political subdivision as defined by IC 36-1-2, state commission, state authority, and all other public bodies corporate and politic. See Indiana Code 5-1-3-1
• Quorum: The number of legislators that must be present to do business.
• Remainder: An interest in property that takes effect in the future at a specified time or after the occurrence of some event, such as the death of a life tenant.
• Reporter: Makes a record of court proceedings and prepares a transcript, and also publishes the court's opinions or decisions (in the courts of appeals).
• Settlement: Parties to a lawsuit resolve their difference without having a trial. Settlements often involve the payment of compensation by one party in satisfaction of the other party's claims.
• Sheriff: means the sheriff of the county or another person authorized to perform sheriff's duties. See Indiana Code 1-1-4-5
• Statute: A law passed by a legislature.
• Summons: Another word for subpoena used by the criminal justice system.
• Testify: Answer questions in court.
• Testimony: Evidence presented orally by witnesses during trials or before grand juries.
• Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
• Trustee: A person or institution holding and administering property in trust.
• United States: includes the District of Columbia and the commonwealths, possessions, states in free association with the United States, and the territories. See Indiana Code 1-1-4-5
• Venue: The geographical location in which a case is tried.
• Verified: when applied to pleadings, means supported by oath or affirmation in writing. See Indiana Code 1-1-4-5