Terms Used In California Codes > Family Code > Division 13 > Part 2 - ADOPTION OF UNMARRIED MINORS

• Accredited agency: means an agency that has been accredited by an accrediting entity, in accordance with the standards in Subpart F (commencing with Section 96. See California Family Code 8900.5
• Adoption service: means any of the following services:

  California Family Code 8900.5

• Advice and consent: Under the Constitution, presidential nominations for executive and judicial posts take effect only when confirmed by the Senate, and international treaties become effective only when the Senate approves them by a two-thirds vote.
• Affirmed: In the practice of the appellate courts, the decree or order is declared valid and will stand as rendered in the lower court.
• Allegation: something that someone says happened.
• Amortization: Paying off a loan by regular installments.
• Appellate: About appeals; an appellate court has the power to review the judgement of another lower court or tribunal.
• applicant: includes an indigent person appearing pro se to represent themself at any stage of the case and applying to receive funds from the Transcript Reimbursement Fund established in Section 8030. See California Business and Professions Code 8030.4
• Aquaculture: means that form of agriculture devoted to the propagation, cultivation, maintenance, and harvesting of aquatic plants and animals in marine, brackish, and fresh water. See California Fish and Game Code 17
• Arrest: Taking physical custody of a person by lawful authority.
• Assets: (1) The property comprising the estate of a deceased person, or (2) the property in a trust account.
• Attachment: A procedure by which a person's property is seized to pay judgments levied by the court.
• Bail: Security given for the release of a criminal defendant or witness from legal custody (usually in the form of money) to secure his/her appearance on the day and time appointed.
• Bankruptcy: Refers to statutes and judicial proceedings involving persons or businesses that cannot pay their debts and seek the assistance of the court in getting a fresh start. Under the protection of the bankruptcy court, debtors may discharge their debts, perhaps by paying a portion of each debt. Bankruptcy judges preside over these proceedings.
• Baseline: Projection of the receipts, outlays, and other budget amounts that would ensue in the future without any change in existing policy. Baseline projections are used to gauge the extent to which proposed legislation, if enacted into law, would alter current spending and revenue levels.
• Bird: means a wild bird or part of a wild bird. See California Fish and Game Code 22
• Board: as used in this chapter , means the Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists established under Section 6710. See California Business and Professions Code 7801
• board: means any entity listed in Section 101, the entities referred to in Sections 1000 and 3600, the State Bar, the Department of Real Estate, and any other state agency that issues a license, certificate, or registration authorizing a person to engage in a business or profession. See California Business and Professions Code 31
• Bureau: means the Cemetery and Funeral Bureau. See California Business and Professions Code 7601
• camper: is a structure designed to be mounted upon a motor vehicle and to provide facilities for human habitation or camping purposes. See California Vehicle Code 243
• Case: means a single legal proceeding from its inception, through all levels of hearing, trial, and appeal, until its ultimate conclusion and disposition. See California Business and Professions Code 8030.4
• Central authority: means the entity designated under paragraph (1) of Article 6 of the convention by a convention country. See California Family Code 8900.5
• Certified shorthand reporter: means a shorthand reporter certified pursuant to Article 3 (commencing with Section 8020) performing shorthand reporting services pursuant to Section 8017. See California Business and Professions Code 8030.4
• Chambers: A judge's office.
• City: includes city and county. See California Business and Professions Code 18
• commercial vehicle: is a motor vehicle of a type required to be registered under this code used or maintained for the transportation of persons for hire, compensation, or profit or designed, used, or maintained primarily for the transportation of property. See California Vehicle Code 260
• Commission: means the Seismic Safety Commission. See California Government Code 8878.52
• Commission: means the Historic State Capitol Commission created by Section 9149. See California Government Code 9149.1
• Commission: means the Fish and Game Commission, and "commissioner" means a member of the Fish and Game Commission. See California Fish and Game Code 30
• Committee: means the California Earthquake Safety and Housing Rehabilitation Finance Committee. See California Government Code 8878.16
• Committee: means the Earthquake Safety and Public Buildings Rehabilitation Finance Committee created pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 8878. See California Government Code 8878.52
• Committee: means the Seismic Retrofit Finance Committee created pursuant to Section 8879. See California Government Code 8879.2
• Common law: The legal system that originated in England and is now in use in the United States. It is based on judicial decisions rather than legislative action.
• Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
• conduit: includes canal, ditch, culvert, pipeline, flume, or other appliance for conducting water. See California Water Code 7030
• Convention: means the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption, May 29, 1993. See California Family Code 8900.5
• Convention adoption: means the adoption of a child resident in a convention country by a United States citizen, or an adoption of a child resident in the United States by an individual or individuals residing in a convention country, if, in connection with the adoption, the child has moved or will move between the United States and the convention country. See California Family Code 8900.5
• Convention country: means a country that is party to the convention and with which the convention is in force for the United States. See California Family Code 8900.5
• Counterclaim: A claim that a defendant makes against a plaintiff.
• county: means a county in which a county firewarden has been appointed. See California Government Code 55601
• County: includes city and county. See California Business and Professions Code 17
• County: includes city and county. See California Water Code 14
• County: includes city and county. See California Family Code 67
• County: includes city and county. See California Fish and Game Code 32
• Court reporter: A person who makes a word-for-word record of what is said in court and produces a transcript of the proceedings upon request.
• Credible science: means the best available scientific information that is not overly prescriptive due to the dynamic nature of science, and includes the evaluation principles of relevance, inclusiveness, objectivity, transparency, timeliness, verification, validation, and peer review of information as appropriate. See California Fish and Game Code 33
• Day: means calendar day, and "week" means calendar week. See California Fish and Game Code 35
• Dealer: is a person not otherwise expressly excluded by Section 286 who:

  California Vehicle Code 285

• Deed: The legal instrument used to transfer title in real property from one person to another.
• Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
• department: means the State Department of Health Care Services and "director" means the Director of Health Care Services. See California Health and Safety Code 11752
• Department: means the Department of Motor Vehicles except, when used in Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 2100) of Division 2 and in Divisions 11 (commencing with Section 21000), 12 (commencing with Section 24000), 13 (commencing with Section 29000), 14 (commencing with Section 31600), 14. See California Vehicle Code 290
• Department: means the Department of Fish and Wildlife. See California Fish and Game Code 37
• Deposition: An oral statement made before an officer authorized by law to administer oaths. Such statements are often taken to examine potential witnesses, to obtain discovery, or to be used later in trial.
• Developmentally Disabled Assistance Act: means the Developmentally Disabled Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 1975 (Public Law 94-103), as amended. See California Business and Professions Code 8030.4
• Devise: To gift property by will.
• director: refer to the Department of General Services and the Director of General Services, respectively, unless the context otherwise requires. See California Government Code 14602
• Director: means the Director of Fish and Wildlife. See California Fish and Game Code 39
• Discovery: Lawyers' examination, before trial, of facts and documents in possession of the opponents to help the lawyers prepare for trial.
• distributor: is a ny person other than a manufacturer who sells or distributes new vehicles subject to registration under this code, new trailers subject to identification pursuant to Section 5014. See California Vehicle Code 296
• District: means fish and game district. See California Fish and Game Code 41
• Docket: A log containing brief entries of court proceedings.
• Donor: The person who makes a gift.
• driver: is a person who drives or is in actual physical control of a vehicle. See California Vehicle Code 305
• Embezzlement: In most states, embezzlement is defined as theft/larceny of assets (money or property) by a person in a position of trust or responsibility over those assets. Embezzlement typically occurs in the employment and corporate settings. ^{Source: OCC}
• Entitlement: A Federal program or provision of law that requires payments to any person or unit of government that meets the eligibility criteria established by law. Entitlements constitute a binding obligation on the part of the Federal Government, and eligible recipients have legal recourse if the obligation is not fulfilled. Social Security and veterans' compensation and pensions are examples of entitlement programs.
• Equitable: Pertaining to civil suits in "equity" rather than in "law." In English legal history, the courts of "law" could order the payment of damages and could afford no other remedy. See damages. A separate court of "equity" could order someone to do something or to cease to do something. See, e.g., injunction. In American jurisprudence, the federal courts have both legal and equitable power, but the distinction is still an important one. For example, a trial by jury is normally available in "law" cases but not in "equity" cases. ^{Source: U.S. Courts}
• Escrow: Money given to a third party to be held for payment until certain conditions are met.
• Ex officio: Literally, by virtue of one's office.
• Exempted provider: means a social work professional or organization that performs a home study on any prospective adoptive parent, or a child background study, or both, in the United States in connection with a convention adoption, and who is not currently providing and has not previously provided any other adoption service in the case. See California Family Code 8900.5
• facility: means any premises, place, or building that provides residential nonmedical services to adults who are recovering from problems related to alcohol, drug, or alcohol and drug misuse or abuse, and who need alcohol, drug, or alcohol and drug recovery treatment or detoxification services. See California Health and Safety Code 11834.02
• First story: means the lowest story in a building which qualifies as a story and which provides the basic services or functions for which the building is used. See California Health and Safety Code 19955.3
• Fish: means a wild fish, mollusk, crustacean, invertebrate, amphibian, or part, spawn, or ovum of any of those animals. See California Fish and Game Code 45
• Fishery: means both of the following:

  California Fish and Game Code 94

• Floor leaders: The Majority Leader and Minority Leader are elected by their respective party conferences to serve as the chief Senate spokesmen for their parties and to manage and schedule the legislative and executive business of the Senate. By custom, the Presiding Officer gives the floor leaders priority in obtaining recognition to speak on the floor of the Senate.
• Foreclosure: A legal process in which property that is collateral or security for a loan may be sold to help repay the loan when the loan is in default. ^{Source: OCC}
• Fraud: Intentional deception resulting in injury to another.
• Fund: means the Housing Rehabilitation Loan Fund established by §. See California Government Code 8878.16
• Fund: means the Earthquake Safety and Public Buildings Rehabilitation Fund of 1990 created pursuant to Section 8878. See California Government Code 8878.52
• Fund: means the Seismic Retrofit Bond Fund of 1996 created pursuant to Section 8879. See California Government Code 8879.2
• Geologist: as used in this chapter , refers to a person engaged in the practice of geology. See California Business and Professions Code 7803
• Geophysicist: as used in this chapter , refers to a person engaged in the practice of geophysics. See California Business and Professions Code 7803.1
• Governing body: means the board of supervisors in the case of a county, or the city council or board of trustees or other governing board in the case of a city, district, or other local governmental agency. See California Military and Veterans Code 1260
• Grade: means the lowest point of elevation of the finished surface of the ground, paving, or sidewalk within the area between the building and the property line or, when the property line is more than 5 feet from the building, between the building and a line 5 feet from the building. See California Health and Safety Code 19955.3
• Grand jury: agreement providing that a lender will delay exercising its rights (in the case of a mortgage,
• Grantor: The person who establishes a trust and places property into it.
• Guarantor: A party who agrees to be responsible for the payment of another party's debts should that party default. ^{Source: OCC}
• Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
• Hague adoption certificate: means a certificate issued by the secretary in an outgoing case (where the child is emigrating from the United States to another convention country) certifying that a child has been adopted in the United States in accordance with the convention and, except as provided in subdivision (b) of Section 97. See California Family Code 8900.5
• Hague custody declaration: means a declaration issued by the secretary in an outgoing case (where the child is emigrating from the United States to another convention country) declaring that custody of a child for purposes of adoption has been granted in the United States in accordance with the convention and, except as provided in subdivision (b) of Section 97. See California Family Code 8900.5
• highway: includes both state and county highways as defined by or identified in the Streets and Highways Code. See California Water Code 7031
• Highway: is a way or place of whatever nature, publicly maintained and open to the use of the public for purposes of vehicular travel. See California Vehicle Code 360
• Historic fabric: means original or added building or construction materials, features, and finishes that are deemed by the commission as historically or architecturally significant. See California Government Code 9149.1
• Historic State Capitol: means the building housing the state legislative offices and chambers, situated in the area bounded by 10th, L, 15th, and N Streets in the City of Sacramento, including the portions of the State Capitol Building Annex that contain historic fabric, and Capitol Park, provided that Capitol Park shall be included in the historic State Capitol for purposes of this article only upon the adoption by the Joint Rules Committee of a master plan regarding Capitol Park. See California Government Code 9149.1
• Impeachment: (1) The process of calling something into question, as in "impeaching the testimony of a witness." (2) The constitutional process whereby the House of Representatives may "impeach" (accuse of misconduct) high officers of the federal government for trial in the Senate.
• Indemnification: In general, a collateral contract or assurance under which one person agrees to secure another person against either anticipated financial losses or potential adverse legal consequences. ^{Source: FDIC}
• Indictment: The formal charge issued by a grand jury stating that there is enough evidence that the defendant committed the crime to justify having a trial; it is used primarily for felonies.
• Indigent person: means any of the following:

  California Business and Professions Code 8030.4

• Injunction: An order of the court prohibiting (or compelling) the performance of a specific act to prevent irreparable damage or injury.
• Intestate: Dying without leaving a will.
• Joint committee: Committees including membership from both houses of teh legislature. Joint committees are usually established with narrow jurisdictions and normally lack authority to report legislation.
• Kelp: means kelp or other marine aquatic plants and the seeds thereof. See California Fish and Game Code 51
• Lawyer referral service: means a lawyer referral program authorized by the State Bar of California pursuant to the rules of professional conduct. See California Business and Professions Code 8030.4
• Legacy: A gift of property made by will.
• Legal service: means any service, other than those defined in this section as an adoption service, that relates to the provision of legal advice and information or to the drafting of legal instruments. See California Family Code 8900.5
• Legal Services Corporation: means the Legal Services Corporation established under the Legal Services Corporation Act of 1974 (Public Law 93-355), as amended. See California Business and Professions Code 8030.4
• legislative body: means the board of supervisors in the case of a county or city and county and the city council or board of trustees in the case of a city. See California Government Code 55701
• Legislative session: That part of a chamber's daily session in which it considers legislative business (bills, resolutions, and actions related thereto).
• Liabilities: The aggregate of all debts and other legal obligations of a particular person or legal entity.
• license: means a basic permit to operate a narcotic treatment program. See California Health and Safety Code 11839.7
• Licensee: means the holder of a license issued under Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 1250) or Chapter 8. See California Health and Safety Code 1418
• Licensing board: means any board, as defined in Section 22, the State Bar of California, and the Department of Real Estate. See California Business and Professions Code 30
• Litigation: A case, controversy, or lawsuit. Participants (plaintiffs and defendants) in lawsuits are called litigants.
• local agency: means any city, county, district, agency, or other political subdivision of the state for the local performance of governmental or proprietary functions within limited boundaries. See California Water Code 10701
• local agency: means county, city, and sanitary district. See California Government Code 55300
• local agency: means a city, chartered city, or a fire protection district. See California Government Code 55600
• local agency: means a neighboring city, county, fire protection district, joint powers authority that provides fire protection services, police protection district, federal government or any federal department or agency. See California Government Code 55631
• local agency: means a county, city and county, and city, both chartered and general law. See California Government Code 55700
• Local government: means any city, county, city and county, or special district. See California Government Code 8878.52
• Long-term health care facility: means any facility licensed pursuant to Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 1250) that is any of the following:

  California Health and Safety Code 1418

• Mammal: means a wild or feral mammal or part of a wild or feral animal, but not a wild, feral, or undomesticated burro. See California Fish and Game Code 54
• Marine finfish aquaculture: means the propagation, cultivation, or maintenance of finfish species in the waters of the Pacific Ocean that are regulated by this state. See California Fish and Game Code 54.5
• Mile: means either a statute mile (5,280 feet) or a nautical mile (6,077 feet) depending on the application. See California Fish and Game Code 55
• Mobilehome: is a structure as defined in §. See California Vehicle Code 396
• month: means a calendar month, unless otherwise expressed. See California Civil Code 14
• Mortgage: The written agreement pledging property to a creditor as collateral for a loan.
• Mortgagee: The person to whom property is mortgaged and who has loaned the money.
• Mortgagor: The person who pledges property to a creditor as collateral for a loan and who receives the money.
• motor vehicle: includes a recreational vehicle as that term is defined in subdivision (a) of §. See California Vehicle Code 415
• motortruck: is a motor vehicle designed, used, or maintained primarily for the transportation of property. See California Vehicle Code 410
• New motor vehicle dealer: is a dealer, as defined in Section 285, who, in addition to the requirements of that section, either acquires for resale new and unregistered motor vehicles from manufacturers or distributors of those motor vehicles or acquires for resale new off-highway motorcycles, or all-terrain vehicles from manufacturers or distributors of the vehicles. See California Vehicle Code 426
• Nolo contendere: No contest-has the same effect as a plea of guilty, as far as the criminal sentence is concerned, but may not be considered as an admission of guilt for any other purpose.
• office: means the Office of Emergency Services. See California Government Code 8878.52
• Older Americans Act: means the Older Americans Act of 1965 (Public Law 89-73), as amended. See California Business and Professions Code 8030.4
• Oral argument: An opportunity for lawyers to summarize their position before the court and also to answer the judges' questions.
• order: include a decree, as appropriate under the circumstances. See California Family Code 100
• Other qualified project: means a nonprofit organization formed for charitable or other public purposes, that does not receive funds from the Legal Services Corporation or pursuant to the federal Older Americans Act, and provides free legal services to indigent persons. See California Business and Professions Code 8030.4
• owner: is a person having all the incidents of ownership, including the legal title of a vehicle whether or not such person lends, rents, or creates a security interest in the vehicle. See California Vehicle Code 460
• person: means any person, firm, association, organization, partnership, business trust, corporation, or company, but not including any public corporation or other public entity. See California Water Code 12000
• Person: includes a corporation as well as a natural person. See California Code of Civil Procedure 17
• Person: means any person, firm, association, organization, partnership, business trust, corporation, limited liability company, or company. See California Water Code 19
• Person: includes a natural person, firm, association, organization, partnership, business trust, corporation, limited liability company, or public entity. See California Family Code 105
• Person: means any natural person or any partnership, corporation, limited liability company, trust, or other type of association. See California Fish and Game Code 67
• Petitioner: includes plaintiff, where appropriate. See California Family Code 126
• Plaintiff: The person who files the complaint in a civil lawsuit.
• Plea: In a criminal case, the defendant's statement pleading "guilty" or "not guilty" in answer to the charges, a declaration made in open court.
• Pleadings: Written statements of the parties in a civil case of their positions. In the federal courts, the principal pleadings are the complaint and the answer.
• Political subdivision: means any city, county, district, or other local governmental agency. See California Military and Veterans Code 1260
• Power of attorney: A written instrument which authorizes one person to act as another's agent or attorney. The power of attorney may be for a definite, specific act, or it may be general in nature. The terms of the written power of attorney may specify when it will expire. If not, the power of attorney usually expires when the person granting it dies. ^{Source: OCC}
• Precedent: A court decision in an earlier case with facts and law similar to a dispute currently before a court. Precedent will ordinarily govern the decision of a later similar case, unless a party can show that it was wrongly decided or that it differed in some significant way.
• President pro tempore: A constitutionally recognized officer of the Senate who presides over the chamber in the absence of the Vice President. The President Pro Tempore (or, "president for a time") is elected by the Senate and is, by custom, the Senator of the majority party with the longest record of continuous service.
• Primary provider: means the accredited agency that is identified pursuant to Section 96. See California Family Code 8900.5
• Pro bono attorney: means any attorney, law firm, or legal corporation, licensed to practice law in this state, that undertakes, without charge to the party, the representation of an indigent person, referred by a qualified legal services project, qualified support center, or other qualified project, in a case not considered to be fee generating, as defined in this chapter. See California Business and Professions Code 8030.4
• Pro se: A Latin term meaning "on one's own behalf"; in courts, it refers to persons who present their own cases without lawyers.
• Probate: Proving a will
• Probation: A sentencing alternative to imprisonment in which the court releases convicted defendants under supervision as long as certain conditions are observed.
• Proceeding: includes an action. See California Family Code 110
• Process: signifies a writ or summons issued in the course of a judicial proceeding. See California Code of Civil Procedure 17
• Project: means a program of work to retrofit, reconstruct, repair, replace, or relocate, for local government-owned facilities only, a building, facility, or both, which is owned by any city, county, city and county, or special district and which is included in an application for a grant of funds. See California Government Code 8878.52
• property: includes property real and personal. See California Civil Code 14
• Property: includes real and personal property and any interest therein. See California Family Code 113
• Public defender: Represent defendants who can't afford an attorney in criminal matters.
• Public domestic authority: means an authority operated by a state, local, or tribal government. See California Family Code 8900.5
• Public law: A public bill or joint resolution that has passed both chambers and been enacted into law. Public laws have general applicability nationwide.
• Purchase: means "buy" as defined in Section 24. See California Fish and Game Code 68
• Qualified legal services project: means a nonprofit project, incorporated and operated exclusively in California, that provides as its primary purpose and function legal services without charge to indigent persons, has a board of directors or advisory board composed of both attorneys and consumers of legal services, and provides for community participation in legal services programming. See California Business and Professions Code 8030.4
• Qualified support center: means an incorporated nonprofit legal services center that has an office or offices in California that provide legal services or technical assistance without charge to qualified legal services projects and their clients on a multicounty basis in California. See California Business and Professions Code 8030.4
• quarter: means July, August, and September. See California Health and Safety Code 11839.7
• Quorum: The number of legislators that must be present to do business.
• Remainder: An interest in property that takes effect in the future at a specified time or after the occurrence of some event, such as the death of a life tenant.
• Reporter: Makes a record of court proceedings and prepares a transcript, and also publishes the court's opinions or decisions (in the courts of appeals).
• Rescission: The cancellation of budget authority previously provided by Congress. The Impoundment Control Act of 1974 specifies that the President may propose to Congress that funds be rescinded. If both Houses have not approved a rescission proposal (by passing legislation) within 45 days of continuous session, any funds being withheld must be made available for obligation.
• Restitution: The court-ordered payment of money by the defendant to the victim for damages caused by the criminal action.
• Retrofit: means to either strengthen the structure of a building or facility, or to provide the means necessary to reduce the seismic force level experienced by a building or facility during an earthquake, so as to significantly reduce hazards to life and safety while concomitantly providing for the substantially safe egress of occupants during and immediately after such an earthquake. See California Government Code 8878.52
• revenue: means revenue derived from the tax collected pursuant to the Bradley-Burns Uniform Local Sales and Use Tax Law provided for in Part 1. See California Government Code 55702
• Ridesharing: means two or more persons traveling by any mode, including, but not limited to, carpooling, vanpooling, buspooling, taxipooling, jitney, and public transit. See California Vehicle Code 522
• Road: means any existing vehicle route established before January 1, 1979, with significant evidence of prior regular travel by vehicles subject to registration pursuant to Article 1 (commencing with Section 4000) of Chapter 1 of Division 3. See California Vehicle Code 527
• Rules of professional conduct: means those rules adopted by the State Bar of California pursuant to Sections 6076 and 6077. See California Business and Professions Code 8030.4
• Secretary: means the United States Secretary of State, and includes any official of the United States Department of State exercising the authority of the Secretary of State under the convention, the IAA, or any regulations implementing the IAA, pursuant to a delegation of authority. See California Family Code 8900.5
• Secretary: means the Secretary of Food and Agriculture. See California Food and Agricultural Code 35
• Sell: includes offer for sale, expose for sale, possess for sale, exchange, barter, or trade. See California Food and Agricultural Code 44
• Sell: includes offer or possess for sale, barter, exchange, or trade. See California Fish and Game Code 75
• semitrailer: is a vehicle designed for carrying persons or property, used in conjunction with a motor vehicle, and so constructed that some part of its weight and that of its load rests upon, or is carried by, another vehicle. See California Vehicle Code 550
• Sheriff: includes marshal. See California Code of Civil Procedure 17
• Spouse: includes "registered domestic partner" as required by §. See California Business and Professions Code 14.2
• Spouse: includes "registered domestic partner" as required by §. See California Code of Civil Procedure 17
• Spouse: includes "registered domestic partner" as required by §. See California Health and Safety Code 12.2
• Spouse: includes "registered domestic partner" as required by Section 297. See California Family Code 143
• State: means the State of California, unless applied to the different parts of the United States. See California Water Code 18
• State: means a state of the United States, the District of Columbia, or a commonwealth, territory, or insular possession subject to the jurisdiction of the United States. See California Family Code 145
• State: means the State of California, unless applied to the different parts of the United States. See California Fish and Game Code 83
• state agency: includes every state office, officer, department, division, bureau, board, and commission. See California Government Code 11000
• State Architect: means the Office of the State Architect. See California Government Code 8878.52
• State building or facility: means any building or structure owned by a state agency, which is identified pursuant to Section 8878. See California Government Code 8878.52
• State Highway Account: means the State Highway Account in the State Transportation Fund. See California Government Code 8879.2
• stock: means a species, subspecies, geographical grouping, or other category of fish capable of management as a unit. See California Fish and Game Code 98.5
• Story: means that portion of a building included between the upper surface of any floor and the upper surface of the floor next above, except that the topmost story shall be that portion of a building included between the upper surface of the topmost floor and the ceiling or roof above. See California Health and Safety Code 19955.3
• Subdivision: means a subdivision of the section in which that term occurs, unless some other section is expressly mentioned. See California Business and Professions Code 15
• Subdivision: means a subdivision of the section in which that term occurs unless some other section is expressly mentioned. See California Food and Agricultural Code 49
• Subdivision: means a subdivision of the section in which that term occurs unless some other section is expressly mentioned. See California Water Code 10
• Subdivision: means a subdivision of the section in which that term occurs unless some other section is expressly mentioned. See California Fish and Game Code 73
• Subpoena: A command to a witness to appear and give testimony.
• Summons: Another word for subpoena used by the criminal justice system.
• Supervised provider: means any agency, person, or other nongovernmental entity that is providing any adoption service in a convention adoption under the supervision and responsibility of an accredited agency that is acting as the primary provider in the case. See California Family Code 8900.5
• Support: refers to a support obligation owing on behalf of a child, spouse, or family, or an amount owing pursuant to Section 17402. See California Family Code 150
• Take: means hunt, pursue, catch, capture, or kill, or attempt to hunt, pursue, catch, capture, or kill. See California Fish and Game Code 86
• Temporary restraining order: Prohibits a person from an action that is likely to cause irreparable harm. This differs from an injunction in that it may be granted immediately, without notice to the opposing party, and without a hearing. It is intended to last only until a hearing can be held.
• Testate: To die leaving a will.
• Testify: Answer questions in court.
• Testimony: Evidence presented orally by witnesses during trials or before grand juries.
• Tort: A civil wrong or breach of a duty to another person, as outlined by law. A very common tort is negligent operation of a motor vehicle that results in property damage and personal injury in an automobile accident.
• tow truck: is a motor vehicle which has been altered or designed and equipped for, and primarily used in the business of, transporting vehicles by means of a crane, hoist, tow bar, tow line, or dolly or is otherwise primarily used to render assistance to other vehicles. See California Vehicle Code 615
• trailer: includes a semitrailer when used in conjunction with an auxiliary dolly, if the auxiliary dolly is of a type constructed to replace the function of the drawbar and the front axle or axles of a trailer. See California Vehicle Code 630
• Transcript: A written, word-for-word record of what was said, either in a proceeding such as a trial or during some other conversation, as in a transcript of a hearing or oral deposition.
• Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
• truck tractor: is a motor vehicle designed and used primarily for drawing other vehicles and not so constructed as to carry a load, other than a part of the weight of the vehicle and the load so drawn. See California Vehicle Code 655
• Trustor: The person who makes or creates a trust. Also known as the grantor or settlor.
• United States: means the United States of America, and in relation to any particular matter includes the officers, agents, employees, agencies, or instrumentalities authorized to act in relation thereto. See California Water Code 12001
• United States: means the United States of America, and in relation to any particular matter includes the officers, agents, employees, agencies, or instrumentalities authorized to act in relation thereto. See California Water Code 20
• Uphold: The decision of an appellate court not to reverse a lower court decision.
• use or enlargement of any natural channel for municipal purposes: includes , but is not limited to, sewage treatment and pollution prevention and the encasing and piping of the New River to protect human health and the natural environment. See California Water Code 7043.5
• vehicle: is a device by which any person or property may be propelled, moved, or drawn upon a highway, excepting a device moved exclusively by human power or used exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks. See California Vehicle Code 670
• Venue: The geographical location in which a case is tried.
• Verdict: The decision of a petit jury or a judge.
• veterans service organization: means any association or organization which is composed solely of persons who served honorably in time of war or in time of peace in a campaign or expedition for service in which a medal has been authorized by the government of the United States, as members of the Armed Forces of the United States, or who as citizens of the United States served honorably in time of war as members of the armed forces of any nation whose government was allied with the United States during that war, and which is organized for patriotic, fraternal, and benevolent objects. See California Military and Veterans Code 1260
• war: shall mean : (a) whenever Congress has declared war and peace has not been formally restored. See California Military and Veterans Code 18
• Wildlife: means and includes all wild animals, birds, plants, fish, amphibians, reptiles, and related ecological communities, including the habitat upon which the wildlife depends for its continued viability. See California Fish and Game Code 89.5
• will: includes codicil. See California Civil Code 14
• Writ: A formal written command, issued from the court, requiring the performance of a specific act.
• Writ: means an order or precept in writing, issued in the name of the people, or of a court or judicial officer. See California Code of Civil Procedure 17
• Writing: includes printing and typewriting. See California Code of Civil Procedure 17