Natural Person: An individual person, as distinguished from a fictitious legal entity such as a corporation or limited liability company.
Negligence/negligently: A person's carelessness (that is, failure to use ordinary or reasonable care) that results in injury to another person or damage to another person's property.
Negotiation: A process of finding solutions to disagreements through conference, discussion and compromise.
Neutral evaluation: When a neutral person (or persons) hears brief written and oral presentations, then considers the strengths and weaknesses of each side's contentions and evidence, and offers an overall evaluation of the dispute. (Compare arbitration, mediation.)
No fault divorce: A divorce that is granted without the necessity of finding a spouse or partner to have been guilty of some relevant misconduct.
Noncustodial parent: A parent who does not have primary care, custody, or control of a child.
Nonfeasance: Failure to perform an act that you are legally responsible for. (Compare malfeasance, misfeasance)
Non-Relative Petitioner: In a guardianship case, a person who is not related to the child through a blood relationship. This includes step-parents, god-parents, foster care providers, and friends of the family.
Notarize: To have a notary public (a public officer) attest or certify certain types of writings to make them authentic under the law.
Notary public: A person authorized under civil law to administer oaths, to attest (affirm) and certify that certain documents are authentic, and to take depositions.
Notice: A written announcement or warning. For example, a notice would be given to the other party stating that on a certain date a particular motion will be made in court.
Notice of Entry of Judgment: A court form telling the parties about the judge's decision in a lawsuit.
Notice of Opposition to Claim of Exemption: A paper filed by the judgment creditor opposing the judgement debtor's claim that certain assets are exempt from collection.
Nuisance: A condition or situation (such as a loud noise or foul odor) that interferes wit the use or enjoyment of property.
Glossary O
Objection: A formal protest made by a party over testimony or evidence that the other side tries to introduce.
Obligation: Law or duty that requires parties to follow their agreement. An obligation or debt may be created by a judgment or contract, like child support.
Obligee: The person, state agency, or institution owed a debt (usually money) like child support (also called "custodial party" if the money is owed to the person with primary custody of a child).
Obligor: The person that must pay child support or perform some other financial obligation.
Order: (1) Decision of a judicial officer ; (2) a directive of the court, on a matter relating to the main proceedings, that decides a preliminary point or directs some steps in the proceedings.
Order to show cause ("OSC"): A directive by a judicial officer for someone to appear in court to give reasons why an action can't, should not have been, or has not been carried out. (Compare to written motion.)
