Terms Used In California Codes > Probate Code > Division 2 > Part 13 > Chapter 1 - Liability of Decedent Covered byInsurance

• Assets: (1) The property comprising the estate of a deceased person, or (2) the property in a trust account.
• City: includes "city and county" and "incorporated town. See California Streets and Highways Code 15
• County: includes "city and county. See California Streets and Highways Code 14
• Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
• Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
• Fiscal year: The fiscal year is the accounting period for the government. For the federal government, this begins on October 1 and ends on September 30. The fiscal year is designated by the calendar year in which it ends; for example, fiscal year 2006 begins on October 1, 2005 and ends on September 30, 2006.
• Joint resolution: A legislative measure which requires the approval of both chambers.
• 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.
• Plaintiff: The person who files the complaint in a civil lawsuit.
• Summons: Another word for subpoena used by the criminal justice system.