Terms Used In Delaware Code > Title 9 > Chapter 48 - Regional Planning

• Adjourn: A motion to adjourn a legislative chamber or a committee, if passed, ends that day's session.
• Affidavit: A written statement of facts confirmed by the oath of the party making it, before a notary or officer having authority to administer oaths.
• Affirmed: In the practice of the appellate courts, the decree or order is declared valid and will stand as rendered in the lower court.
• Amendment: A proposal to alter the text of a pending bill or other measure by striking out some of it, by inserting new language, or both. Before an amendment becomes part of the measure, thelegislature must agree to it.
• Answer: The formal written statement by a defendant responding to a civil complaint and setting forth the grounds for defense.
• Appeal: A request made after a trial, asking another court (usually the court of appeals) to decide whether the trial was conducted properly. To make such a request is "to appeal" or "to take an appeal." One who appeals is called the appellant.
• Attachment: A procedure by which a person's property is seized to pay judgments levied by the court.
• Attorney-at-law: A person who is legally qualified and licensed to practice law, and to represent and act for clients in legal proceedings.
• 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.
• Commission: means "Regional Planning Commission of Kent County" created by this chapter. See Delaware Code Title 9 Sec. 4801
• Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
• Council: means "the Council of the Mayor and Council of Dover. See Delaware Code Title 9 Sec. 4801
• Counterclaim: A claim that a defendant makes against a plaintiff.
• County government: means the county governing body of Kent County. See Delaware Code Title 9 Sec. 4801
• Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
• Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
• 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.
• District: means "Regional Planning District of Kent County" created by this chapter. See Delaware Code Title 9 Sec. 4801
• Docket: A log containing brief entries of court proceedings.
• dollars: means lawful money of the United States. See Delaware Code Title 1 Sec. 302
• Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
• Executor: A male person named in a will to carry out the decedent
• Infant: means a person who has not reached the age of 18 years. See Delaware Code Title 1 Sec. 302
• Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
• Land development: means "any tract or parcel of land upon which is proposed the construction or erection of 1 or more commercial, industrial, multi-family, or mobile home park use. See Delaware Code Title 9 Sec. 4801
• Minor subdivision: means any subdivision of land that creates 5 or less, or no, parcels of land and if a parcel of land is created, either said created parcel is not on a new road, or said created parcel or parcels is on a private road approved pursuant to regulations adopted by the county government; and shall apply only to the creation of up to a 5 parcel minor subdivision and shall not apply to the creation of parcels in excess of a total of 5 off of the tract of land from which minor subdivision is sought. See Delaware Code Title 9 Sec. 4801
• Obligation: An order placed, contract awarded, service received, or similar transaction during a given period that will require payments during the same or a future period.
• Plaintiff: The person who files the complaint in a civil lawsuit.
• Probate: Proving a will
• Prosecute: To charge someone with a crime. A prosecutor tries a criminal case on behalf of the government.
• Remand: When an appellate court sends a case back to a lower court for further proceedings.
• Road: includes any "road" "street" "highway" "freeway" "parkway" or other public thoroughfare. See Delaware Code Title 9 Sec. 4801
• Service of process: The service of writs or summonses to the appropriate party.
• Statute: A law passed by a legislature.
• Subdivision: means division of any part, parcel or area of land by the owner or the owner's agent, into lots or parcels 2 or more in number for the purpose of conveyance, transfer, improvement or sale with or without appurtenant roads, streets, lanes, driveways and ways dedicated or intended to be dedicated to public use, or the use of purchasers or owners of lots fronting thereon. See Delaware Code Title 9 Sec. 4801
• Subpoena: A command to a witness to appear and give testimony.
• Summons: Another word for subpoena used by the criminal justice system.
• Testify: Answer questions in court.
• Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
• Writ: A formal written command, issued from the court, requiring the performance of a specific act.