Keeper: An officer that the court appoints to be responsible for money or property legally seized in connection with a pending case.
Keeper Levy: A judgment enforcement procedure in which the levying officer takes over the operation of a judgment debtor's business for a limited time to obtain cash and credit card receipts for payment to the judgment creditor. (See also judgment creditor, judgment debtor)
Glossary L
Landlord: A business or person who owns a rental unit, and who rents or leases the rental unit to another person, called a tenant.
Lease: A rental agreement, usually in writing, that establishes all the terms of the agreement and that lasts for a predetermined length of time (for example, six months or one year). (Compare to periodic rental agreement)
Legal aid organizations: Organizations that provide free legal advice, representation, and other legal services in noncriminal cases to economically disadvantaged persons.
Legal custody is the ability to make all decisions regarding the health, welfare, and education of the child.
Legal Duty: an obligation that is owed or due to another and that needs to be satisfied; an obligation for which somebody else has a corresponding right.
Legal father: A man that is recognized by law as the male parent of a child.
Legal guardian is an adult, entity, or institution to whom the court has given authority and responsibility for providing care for the child, or to manage the child's assets, or both.
Legally Competent: Having the menatal ability to understand problems and make and communicate respionsible personal decisions or to enter into contracts.
Legal, money or other interest: In guardianship cases, a person would have an "interest" if their rights, powers or privileges would be affected by decisions made on the child's behalf.
Legal parent is the person who is recognized under the law as the natural parent of the minor child.
Legal separation: Two spouses or domestic partners can end their relationship but still remain legally married or partnered, and get court orders on parenting and money issues, with a judgment of legal separation.
Libel: False and malicious material that is written or published that is defamatory and hurts a person's reputation. (Compare slander)
Lien: A claim on property to prevent the sale or transfer of that property until a debt is paid. The lien may be enforced or collected by levying on the property. (See also levy)
Letters of Guardianship establish the guardian of the child. These Letters will assist him or her in doing a good job -- signing the child up for school, getting medical care and taking care of estate business.
Levy: To obtain money by legal process through seizure and/or sale of property.
Levying officer: Sheriff or marshal who is given the power by a "writ of execution" to levy on a judgment debtor's property.
Liabilities: Money owed, such as house mortgages, car payments, student loans, or credit card balances. Liabilities are also obligations to do or refrain from doing something; a duty that eventually must be performed.
Litigants: The parties (sides) involved in a lawsuit.
Litigate: To conduct or engage in a lawsuit.
Litigation: A case, controversy, or lawsuit. The people involved in lawsuits (plaintiffs and defendants) are called "litigants."
Lock out: When a landlord locks a tenant out of the rental unit with the intent of terminating the tenancy. Lockouts, and all other self-help eviction remedies, are illegal.
Lodger: A person who lives in a room in a house where the owner lives. The owner can enter all areas occupied by the lodger, and has overall control of the house.
