Terms Used In Texas Local Government Code Chapter 280 - Miscellaneous Provisions Affecting Acquisition, Sale, or Lease of Property by Municipalities and Counties

• Answer: The formal written statement by a defendant responding to a civil complaint and setting forth the grounds for defense.
• Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
• Fee simple: Absolute title to property with no limitations or restrictions regarding the person who may inherit it.
• Grantor: The person who establishes a trust and places property into it.
• 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.
• Lease: A contract transferring the use of property or occupancy of land, space, structures, or equipment in consideration of a payment (e.g., rent). ^{Source: OCC}
• Month: means a calendar month. See Texas Government Code 312.011
• Municipality: means a general-law municipality, home-rule municipality, or special-law municipality. See Texas Local Government Code 1.005
• Probation: A sentencing alternative to imprisonment in which the court releases convicted defendants under supervision as long as certain conditions are observed.
• Property: means real and personal property. See Texas Government Code 311.005
• Rule: includes regulation. 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