Terms Used In Michigan Laws > Chapter 722 > Act 211 of 1990 - The Parental Rights Restoration Act

• Abortion: means the intentional use of an instrument, drug, or other substance or device to terminate a woman's pregnancy for a purpose other than to increase the probability of a live birth, to preserve the life or health of the child after live birth, or to remove a dead fetus. See Michigan Laws 722.902
• 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.
• Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
• 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.
• 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.
• Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
• Medical emergency: means that condition which, on the basis of a physician's good faith clinical judgment, so complicates the medical condition of a pregnant woman as to necessitate an immediate abortion of that woman's pregnancy to avert her death, or for which a delay in performing an abortion will create serious risk of substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function. See Michigan Laws 722.902
• Minor: means a person under the age of 18 years who is not emancipated pursuant to section 4 of Act No. See Michigan Laws 722.902
• Next friend: means a person who is not 1 of the following: