Terms Used In California Codes > Financial Code > Division 2 > Chapter 1 > Article 5 - Criminal Forfeiture

• Allegation: something that someone says happened.
• Assets: (1) The property comprising the estate of a deceased person, or (2) the property in a trust account.
• City: includes incorporated city, city and county, municipal corporation, municipality, town and incorporated town. See California Financial Code 13
• 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.
• County: includes city and county. See California Financial Code 14
• Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
• department: means State Department of Health Services. See California Health and Safety Code 20
• Escrow: Money given to a third party to be held for payment until certain conditions are met.
• Grand jury: agreement providing that a lender will delay exercising its rights (in the case of a mortgage,
• 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.
• Injunction: An order of the court prohibiting (or compelling) the performance of a specific act to prevent irreparable damage or injury.
• Lien: A claim against real or personal property in satisfaction of a debt.
• Mortgage: The written agreement pledging property to a creditor as collateral for a loan.
• Person: includes any person, firm, partnership, association, corporation, company, limited liability company, syndicate, estate, trust, business trust, or organization of any kind. See California Financial Code 18
• pet dealer: means a person engaging in the business of selling dogs or cats, or both, at retail, and by virtue of the sales of dogs or cats is required to possess a permit pursuant to §. See California Health and Safety Code 122125
• Probable cause: A reasonable ground for belief that the offender violated a specific law.
• purchaser: means a person who purchases a dog or cat from a pet dealer without the intent to resell the animal. See California Health and Safety Code 122125
• Restitution: The court-ordered payment of money by the defendant to the victim for damages caused by the criminal action.
• Temporary restraining order: Prohibits a person from an action that is likely to cause irreparable harm. This differs from an injunction in that it may be granted immediately, without notice to the opposing party, and without a hearing. It is intended to last only until a hearing can be held.
• Verdict: The decision of a petit jury or a judge.