Glossary

Family allowance: A small amount of money set aside from the estate of the deceased. Its purpose is to provide for the surviving family members during the administration of the estate.
Felony: A crime more serious than a misdemeanor, carrying a penalty of possible incarceration in a state prison facility.
Fiduciary: A person having a legal relationship of trust and confidence to another and having a duty to act primarily for the other’s benefit: i.e., a guardian, trustee or executor.
File: To place a paper in the official custody of the clerk of court/court administrator to enter into the files or records of a case.
Filed in open court: Court documents entered into the file in court.
Finding: Formal conclusion by a judge or regulatory agency on issues of fact. Also, a conclusion by a jury regarding a fact.
First appearance: The initial appearance of an arrested person before a judge to determine whether or not there is probable cause for his/her arrest. Generally, the person comes before a judge within hours of the arrest. Also called initial appearance.
Fraud: Intentional deception to deprive another person of property or to injure that person in some way.
Fugitive: A person who flees from one state to another to avoid prosecution.