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Personal Representatives

What is a personal representative?

When a person dies, state law establishes legal procedures for settling the deceased person's estate. This process is called probate. If the person had a will, someone may have been...

Guardians ad Litem

What is a guardian ad litem?

Guardian ad litem is a Latin term meaning "guardian at law." A guardian ad litem is a person appointed by the court to speak on behalf of a child and to protect the rights of the child...

Hung Juries

The United States Constitution guarantees all criminal defendants a right to a trial by a jury of their peers. A criminal jury consists of 12 people. There is also a constitutional right to a jury trial in certain types of civil cases. The jury...

Writs of Mandamus

Historically, the writ of mandamus in England was a command issuing in the king's name and directing an individual, corporation, or inferior court to do a particular thing that related to their office and duty. In the United States, a writ of...

The Effect of a Judgment in a Civil Lawsuit

When a court of competent jurisdiction renders a final judgment on the merits of a case, the judgment is conclusive between the parties as to the claims, facts, and issues litigated in the case. This article discusses the effect of a judgment in...