Glossary
Plain-English definitions across legal, tax, healthcare, notary, and paralegal topics — 80 terms.
Legal
- Affidavit
A written statement of facts sworn under oath before a notary or authorized officer.
- Chapter 13 Bankruptcy
A 3-5 year court-supervised repayment plan that protects assets from creditors.
- Chapter 7 Bankruptcy
Liquidation bankruptcy that discharges most unsecured debt in 3-4 months.
- Civil Restraining Order
A court order protecting a person from harassment, abuse, or threats.
- Conservatorship
A court-appointed authority to manage the finances of an incapacitated adult.
- Eviction
The legal process to remove a tenant from rental property.
- Expungement
A court order sealing or destroying a criminal record from public view.
- Guardianship
A court-appointed legal authority to make decisions for a minor or incapacitated adult.
- Intestate
Dying without a valid will.
- Living Trust
A trust created during the grantor's lifetime to hold and transfer assets outside probate.
- Name Change Petition
A court process to legally change an adult or minor's name.
- Petition
A formal written request asking a court to take a specific action.
- Power of Attorney (POA)
A legal document authorizing one person to act on another's behalf.
- Probate
The court-supervised process of validating a will and distributing a decedent's estate.
- Quitclaim Deed
A deed transferring whatever interest the grantor has, with no warranties of title.
- Small Claims Court
A simplified court for civil disputes below a statutory dollar limit.
- Small Estate Affidavit
A sworn statement to collect a small estate without full probate.
- Subpoena
A court order compelling testimony or production of documents.
- Summons
A court-issued notice requiring a defendant to respond to a lawsuit.
- Unlawful Detainer
A summary court action to remove a person occupying property without legal right.
- Warranty Deed
A deed in which the grantor warrants clear title to the buyer.
IRS & Financial
- 1099/W-2 Misclassification
Treating a worker as a 1099 contractor when the IRS would classify them as a W-2 employee.
- Accountable Plan
An IRS-compliant employer reimbursement arrangement that excludes payments from taxable wages.
- Audit Representation
Professional representation before the IRS or state tax authority during an audit.
- Augusta Rule (§280A(g))
Tax rule allowing a homeowner to rent their home to their business for up to 14 days tax-free.
- BOI Report (FinCEN)
Beneficial Ownership Information report required of most US entities under the Corporate Transparency Act.
- Bookkeeping
The recording, classifying, and reconciling of a business's financial transactions.
- Currently Not Collectible (CNC)
An IRS status that pauses collection when a taxpayer cannot afford to pay.
- EIN (Employer Identification Number)
A federal tax ID number issued by the IRS to identify a business entity.
- Estimated Tax Payments
Quarterly federal tax payments required when withholding doesn't cover liability.
- Federal Tax Lien
A public claim against a taxpayer's property securing IRS debt.
- Innocent Spouse Relief
Relief from joint tax liability caused by a spouse's understatement or fraud.
- IRS Installment Agreement
A monthly payment plan to resolve federal tax liability over time.
- IRS Levy
An IRS seizure of wages, bank accounts, or other assets to satisfy tax debt.
- ITIN (Individual Taxpayer Identification Number)
An IRS tax ID for individuals who must file taxes but aren't eligible for an SSN.
- Offer in Compromise (OIC)
An IRS settlement that lets qualifying taxpayers resolve tax debt for less than owed.
- QBI Deduction (Section 199A)
A 20% deduction on qualified pass-through business income for individuals.
- Reasonable Compensation (S-Corp)
IRS-required market-rate salary that S-corp owner-employees must take before distributions.
- S-Corporation Election
An IRS tax classification allowing pass-through taxation with payroll tax savings.
- Tax Transcript
An IRS document summarizing return data, account history, or wage information.
Healthcare
- 503A Compounding Pharmacy
A pharmacy that compounds patient-specific medications under state pharmacy law.
- 503B Outsourcing Facility
An FDA-registered facility that compounds sterile medications for office-use bulk supply.
- ABA Therapy Provider
Applied Behavior Analysis providers serving primarily children with autism.
- Adult Day Care (ADC)
Licensed center providing daytime supervision and care for adults.
- AHCA Licensure (Florida)
Florida Agency for Health Care Administration licensing for healthcare facilities.
- Anti-Kickback Statute (AKS)
Federal criminal law prohibiting remuneration to induce referrals for federal healthcare program items or services.
- CAQH ProView
A centralized provider data repository used by most US insurance payers.
- CDPH Licensure (California)
California Department of Public Health licensing for healthcare facilities.
- Credentialing
The verification of a provider's qualifications by insurance payers or facilities.
- HIPAA
The federal law protecting the privacy and security of patient health information.
- Home Health Agency (HHA)
Licensed agency providing skilled nursing and therapy in a patient's home.
- Medicaid Provider Enrollment
State-by-state enrollment to bill Medicaid managed care and fee-for-service plans.
- Medicare Provider Enrollment
The process of becoming an approved Medicare provider through PECOS.
- MedSpa
A medical spa offering cosmetic procedures under physician supervision.
- NPI (National Provider Identifier)
A 10-digit unique federal identifier for healthcare providers.
- OSHA Compliance (Healthcare)
Federal workplace safety standards applicable to healthcare settings.
- Stark Law
Federal law prohibiting physician self-referral of Medicare/Medicaid patients to entities they have a financial interest in.
- Telehealth Licensure
Rules requiring providers to be licensed in the state where the patient is located at the time of service.
- Value-Based Care
Reimbursement model that pays providers based on patient outcomes rather than service volume.
Notary
- Acknowledgment (Notarial)
A notarial act in which the signer confirms they signed a document voluntarily.
- Apostille
An authentication certificate validating a US document for use in Hague Convention countries.
- In-Person Electronic Notarization (IPEN)
Electronic notarization with the signer physically present.
- Jurat
A notarial act in which the signer swears or affirms the content is true.
- Loan Signing Agent (NSA)
A notary specially trained to handle real estate loan document signings.
- Mobile Notary
A notary who travels to clients for in-person notarization.
- Notary Public
A state-commissioned officer authorized to witness signatures and administer oaths.
- Remote Online Notarization (RON)
Notarization conducted via live audio-video with an electronically signed document.
Paralegal
- Billable Hour
Time recorded in tenths of an hour and charged to a client for legal work performed.
- Calendaring (Legal)
The legal-specific practice of tracking court deadlines, statutes of limitations, and case events.
- Case Management System
Software platform that organizes legal matters, deadlines, documents, and billing.
- Conflict Check
A search of firm records for ethical conflicts before accepting a new client or matter.
- Court Filing
The process of submitting documents to a court for an active case.
- Deposition Summary
A condensed digest of deposition testimony prepared for attorney use.
- Discovery (Litigation)
The pre-trial process of exchanging information between parties.
- IOLTA Account
An interest-bearing client trust account where interest funds legal aid programs.
- Legal Document Assistant (LDA)
A California-licensed professional who prepares self-help legal documents.
- Legal Research
The process of finding statutes, case law, and secondary authority to support a legal position.
- Paralegal
A trained legal professional who assists attorneys with substantive legal work.
- Trial Binder
An organized binder of exhibits, pleadings, and reference materials for use at trial.
- Trial Deconfliction
The process of resolving conflicting court appearances for one attorney across multiple cases.