Terms Used In Alabama Code > Title 16 > Chapter 60 > Article 13 - Gadsden State Community College

• Answer: The formal written statement by a defendant responding to a civil complaint and setting forth the grounds for defense.
• circuit: means judicial circuit. See Alabama Code 1-1-1
• Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
• Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
• Dower: A widow
• 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.
• person: includes a corporation as well as a natural person. See Alabama Code 1-1-1
• 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.
• property: includes both real and personal property. See Alabama Code 1-1-1
• Service of process: The service of writs or summonses to the appropriate party.
• state: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the several territories of the United States. See Alabama Code 1-1-1
• Testify: Answer questions in court.
• writing: includes typewriting and printing on paper. See Alabama Code 1-1-1