Terms Used In Michigan Laws > Chapter 750 > Act 328 of 1931 > Chapter XXVIII - Disorderly Persons

• Bankruptcy: Refers to statutes and judicial proceedings involving persons or businesses that cannot pay their debts and seek the assistance of the court in getting a fresh start. Under the protection of the bankruptcy court, debtors may discharge their debts, perhaps by paying a portion of each debt. Bankruptcy judges preside over these proceedings.
• Business of debt management: means providing or offering to provide debt management to 1 or more residents of this state. See Michigan Laws 451.412
• Certified counselor: means an individual who is certified by a training program or certifying organization, approved by the director, that authenticates the competence of individuals who provide education and assistance to other individuals in connection with debt counseling and financial counseling functions. See Michigan Laws 451.412
• Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
• Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
• 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.
• Counselor: means a certified counselor who is an employee or agent of a licensee who engages in financial counseling and debt counseling functions. See Michigan Laws 451.412
• Debt management: means the planning and management of the financial affairs of a debtor and the receipt of money from the debtor for distribution to 1 or more of the debtor's creditors in payment or partial payment of the debtor's obligations. See Michigan Laws 451.412
• Debtor: means a person from which money is collected for the benefit of a creditor of the debtor. See Michigan Laws 451.412
• Department: means the department of insurance and financial services. See Michigan Laws 451.412
• Director: means the director of the department or his or her authorized representative. See Michigan Laws 451.412
• Dismissal: The dropping of a case by the judge without further consideration or hearing. ^Source:
• Embezzlement: In most states, embezzlement is defined as theft/larceny of assets (money or property) by a person in a position of trust or responsibility over those assets. Embezzlement typically occurs in the employment and corporate settings. ^{Source: OCC}
• Escrow: Money given to a third party to be held for payment until certain conditions are met.
• 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.
• felony: when used in this act, shall be construed to mean an offense for which the offender, on conviction may be punished by death, or by imprisonment in state prison. See Michigan Laws 750.7
• Fiduciary: A trustee, executor, or administrator.
• firearm: except as otherwise specifically defined in statute, includes any weapon which will, is designed to, or may readily be converted to expel a projectile by action of an explosive. See Michigan Laws 8.3t
• Forgery: The fraudulent signing or alteration of another's name to an instrument such as a deed, mortgage, or check. The intent of the forgery is to deceive or defraud. ^{Source: OCC}
• in writing: shall be construed to include printing, engraving, and lithographing; except that if the written signature of a person is required by law, the signature shall be the proper handwriting of the person or, if the person is unable to write, the person's proper mark, which may be, unless otherwise expressly prohibited by law, a clear and classifiable fingerprint of the person made with ink or another substance. See Michigan Laws 8.3q
• Indictment: The formal charge issued by a grand jury stating that there is enough evidence that the defendant committed the crime to justify having a trial; it is used primarily for felonies.
• License: means a written certificate or exemption order issued by the director under this act. See Michigan Laws 451.412
• Licensee: means a person that is licensed, or is required to be licensed, under this act to perform debt management services and is located inside or outside the boundaries of this state. See Michigan Laws 451.412
• month: means a calendar month; the word "year" a calendar year; and the word "year" alone shall be equivalent to the words "year of our Lord". See Michigan Laws 8.3j
• Office: means each location, described by street name, building number, city, and state, where a person engages in the business of debt management. See Michigan Laws 451.412
• 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.
• Person: means an individual, corporation, partnership, association, joint stock company, trust if the interests of the beneficiaries are evidenced by a security, limited liability company, or other legal entity. See Michigan Laws 451.412
• person: may extend and be applied to bodies politic and corporate, as well as to individuals. See Michigan Laws 8.3l
• Probation: A sentencing alternative to imprisonment in which the court releases convicted defendants under supervision as long as certain conditions are observed.
• Service of process: The service of writs or summonses to the appropriate party.
• shall not apply: means that the pertinent provision is not operative as to certain persons or things or in conjunction with a particular date or dates. See Michigan Laws 8.4c
• state: when applied to the different parts of the United States, shall be construed to extend to and include the District of Columbia and the several territories belonging to the United States; and the words "United States" shall be construed to include the district and territories. See Michigan Laws 8.3o
• Statute: A law passed by a legislature.
• Trust account: A general term that covers all types of accounts in a trust department, such as estates, guardianships, and agencies. ^{Source: OCC}
• United States: shall be construed to include the district and territories. See Michigan Laws 8.3o