Failure to exercise the degree of care that a reasonable person would exercise under the same circumstances.

A person acting without formal appointment as guardian for the benefit of an infant, a person of unsound mind not judicially declared incompetent, or other person under some disability.

A phrase that describes complaints brought by the police that will not be filed with the court (at the prosecutor’s discretion).

Language in a will that provides that a person who makes a legal challenge to the will's validity will be disinherited.

A civil case in which parties may resolve their dispute without a formal finding of error or fault.

Decision by a prosecutor not to go forward with charging a crime. It translates to "I do not choose to prosecute." Also loosely called nolle pros.

A plea of no contest. In many jurisdictions, it is an expression that the matter will not be contested, but without an admission of guilt. In other jurisdictions, it is an admission of the charges and is equivalent to a guilty plea.

An facility that supervises youth living in the Northeast quadrant of the city. It offers an alternative to those facing probation revocation or pre-trial detention by having them at the center 6 days a week to engage in mentoring, counseling, and other pro-social activities.

An office that supervises youth living in the Northwest quadrant of the city who are on pre-trial release or have been given probation.

The disposition of a case with which the DC Attorney General’s Office has decided not to move forward.

Formal notification to the party that has been sued in a civil case of the fact that the lawsuit has been filed. Also, any form of notification of a legal proceeding.

A legal phrase applied to acts which are allowed after the time when they should be done, with a retroactive effect.

An oral (unwritten) will.