Terms Used In Louisiana Revised Statutes > Title 13 > Chapter 8-A > Part I - First Parish Court for the Parish of Jefferson

• Affidavit: A written statement of facts confirmed by the oath of the party making it, before a notary or officer having authority to administer oaths.
• Answer: The formal written statement by a defendant responding to a civil complaint and setting forth the grounds for defense.
• Appraisal: A determination of property value.
• Arrest: Taking physical custody of a person by lawful authority.
• Bail: Security given for the release of a criminal defendant or witness from legal custody (usually in the form of money) to secure his/her appearance on the day and time appointed.
• Clerk of court: An officer appointed by the court to work with the chief judge in overseeing the court's administration, especially to assist in managing the flow of cases through the court and to maintain court records.
• Court reporter: A person who makes a word-for-word record of what is said in court and produces a transcript of the proceedings upon request.
• Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
• governing authority: means the governing authority of the parish of Calcasieu or the cities of Lake Charles or Sulphur. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 19:134
• Governing authority: means the governing authority of the city of Ruston. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 19:135
• Litigation: A case, controversy, or lawsuit. Participants (plaintiffs and defendants) in lawsuits are called litigants.
• Plaintiff: The person who files the complaint in a civil lawsuit.
• Probate: Proving a will
• property: means any portion of immovable property, including servitudes, rights-of-way, and other rights in or to immovable property, where there are no buildings or structures for support or shelter. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 19:134
• Property: means any portion of immovable property, including servitudes, rights-of-way, and other rights in or to immovable property. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 19:135
• Remainder: An interest in property that takes effect in the future at a specified time or after the occurrence of some event, such as the death of a life tenant.
• Reporter: Makes a record of court proceedings and prepares a transcript, and also publishes the court's opinions or decisions (in the courts of appeals).
• Testimony: Evidence presented orally by witnesses during trials or before grand juries.
• Transcript: A written, word-for-word record of what was said, either in a proceeding such as a trial or during some other conversation, as in a transcript of a hearing or oral deposition.
• Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.