Terms Used In Texas Business and Commerce Code Chapter 52 > Subchapter A - General Provisions

• Answer: The formal written statement by a defendant responding to a civil complaint and setting forth the grounds for defense.
• Attachment: A procedure by which a person's property is seized to pay judgments levied by the court.
• Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
• Dismissal: The dropping of a case by the judge without further consideration or hearing. ^Source:
• Docket: A log containing brief entries of court proceedings.
• Nolo contendere: No contest-has the same effect as a plea of guilty, as far as the criminal sentence is concerned, but may not be considered as an admission of guilt for any other purpose.
• Plea: In a criminal case, the defendant's statement pleading "guilty" or "not guilty" in answer to the charges, a declaration made in open court.
• Property: means real and personal property. See Texas Government Code 311.005
• Summons: Another word for subpoena used by the criminal justice system.
• Swear: includes affirm. See Texas Government Code 311.005
• United States: includes a department, bureau, or other agency of the United States of America. See Texas Government Code 311.005