LIVING FREE with Liz Johnson

Last week in this column, a list of several legal words and definitions that will be helpful when one is involved in the legal system was presented. Today that list continues below.

IN PROPER PERSON – acting as one’s own lawyer. This is the same as prose.

IN FORMA PAUPERIS – A legal term used to signify that one of the parties is unable to pay the court fee. After an affidavit is filed, the judge may allow the party to proceed without paying in advance.

NOTARY/NOTARY PUBLIC – Someone who has the authority to show that you signed a statement or document. A notary will put a seal on the document. Most lawyers are notaries.

PARTY or PARTIES – A person or people involved in a legal action.

PETITION – An application or request to the court. In the instance of domestic violence, the petition asks the court to issue a protective order.

PETITIONER – The person making the request in a petition is a petitioner.

PLAINTIFF – The person who begins the case and files the initial petition.

PROSE – Acting as one’s own lawyer. In Latin, this means “for oneself”.

PROCESS SERVER – The person who personally delivers legal documents ordering someone to appear in court. In Louisiana, the sheriff’s office personnel will usually be the process server, however, the court can appoint a special person who is not employed by the sheriff’s office to serve the papers.

PROSECUTOR – A government lawyer who argues on behalf of the government in a criminal case.

PROTECTIVE ORDER – A legal document to protect against the abuser. It requires the abuser to stay away from the person being abused.

TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER – A legal document which is usually granted without a hearing and for a limited time, prohibiting someone from certain actions. It is enforceable only until the court hearing.

SERVICE – The delivering of court documents to one of the parties. The abuser must be “Served” with the document telling him why and when he must appear in court. Service can be made personally or be brought to the domicile.

SUBPOENA – A legal document ordering a person to appear in court.

Living Free Ministries

Liz Johnson

P. O. Box 2815

Reserve, LA 70084

(985) 652-9938