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Glossary

Tangible personal property memorandum (TPPM)
A legal document that is referred to in a will and used to guide the distribution of tangible personal property.
Temporary relief
Any form of action by a court granting one of the parties an order to protect its interest pending further action by the court.
Temporary restraining order
A judge’s order forbidding certain actions until a full hearing can be held. Usually of short duration. Often referred to as a TRO.
Testamentary capacity
The legal ability to make a will.
Testamentary trust
A trust set up by a will.
Testator
Person who makes a will (female: testatrix)
Testimony
The evidence given by a witness under oath. It does not include evidence from documents and other physical evidence.
Third party
A person, business or government agency not actively involved in a legal proceeding, agreement, or transaction.
Third party claim
An action by the defendant that beings a third party into a lawsuit.
Time served
Actual number of days served in jail.
Title
Legal ownership of property, usually real property or automobiles.
Tort
An injury or wrong committed on the person or property of another. A tort is an infringement on the rights of an individual, but not founded in a contract. The most common tort action is a suit for damages sustained in an automobile accident.
Transcript
A written, word
Transfer cases
Cases going from one court or one jurisdiction to another.
Traverse
A formal denial of allegations.
True bill
A finding by a grand jury that there is sufficient evidence to warrant a criminal charge.
True copy
An exact copy of a written instrument.
Trust
A legal device used to manage real or personal property, established by one person (the grantor or settlor) for the benefit of another (the beneficiary). A third person (the trustee) or the grantor manages the trust.
Trust agreement or declaration
The legal document that sets up a living trust. Testamentary trusts are set up in a will.
Trustee
The person or institution that manages the property put in trust.