Dictionary of Law
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

jurisdictional amount :: legal definition


Jurisdictional amount - n. the range between the minimum and maximum amount of money or value in dispute in a lawsuit (generally based on the amount demanded in the lawsuit), which determines which court has jurisdiction to try the case. Example: in California, municipal courts have jurisdiction up to $25,000, superior courts have jurisdiction over that sum, and small claims courts (an alternative to formal municipal court filing) have a maximum jurisdictional amount of $5,000. Federal jurisdiction commences at the $10,000 level, if the lawsuit fits other federal requirements.

See also: jurisdiction and Related Law Terms ↓


Related Law Terms

ad litem :: adj. legal Latin meaning "for the purposes of the ... of age. See also: guardian ad litem
ancillary jurisdiction :: n. a term used in federal courts when the court de ... ine. See also: pendent jurisdiction
appeal :: 1) v. to ask a higher court to reverse the decisio ... ng, as in "he has filed an appeal."
attorney :: n. 1) an agent or someone authorized to act for an ... ialize. See also: court reciprocity
bailiff :: n. 1) a court official, usually a deputy sheriff, ... isdictional territory of a bailiff.
bankruptcy court :: n. the specialized federal court in which bankrupt ... : bankruptcy bankruptcy proceedings
comity :: n. when one court defers to the jurisdiction of an ... of cases to which comity may apply.
conflict of law :: n. a situation in which both state and federal law ... y arose. See also: forum preemption
constitution :: n. the fundamental, underlying document which esta ... ts common law constitutional rights
court :: n. 1) the judge, as in "The court rules in favor o ... cost and wait of full court trials.
deposition :: n. the taking and recording of testimony of a witn ... See also: deponent depose discovery
dismissal :: n. 1) the act of voluntarily terminating a crimina ... f the settlement. See also: dismiss
district court :: n. 1) in the federal court system, a trial court f ... urt in some states. See also: court
execution :: n. 1) the act of getting an officer of the court t ... so: death penalty writ of execution
federal courts :: n. the court system which handles civil and crimin ... rans' appeals. See also: bankruptcy
federal question :: n. one basis for filing a lawsuit in federal distr ... ves the federal court jurisdiction.
file :: 1) v. to deposit with the clerk of the court a wri ... rrespondence and notes on the case.
hearsay rule :: n. the basic rule that testimony or documents whic ... interest dying declaration hearsay
in personam :: adj. (in purr-soh-nam) from Latin for "directed to ... here. See also: in rem jurisdiction
interest :: n. 1) any and all, partial or total right to prope ... nal property real property standing
interpleader :: n. the procedure when two parties are involved in ... e claimants fight over it in court.
judge :: 1) n. an official with the authority and responsib ... ice justice of the peace magistrate
jurisdiction :: n. the authority given by law to a court to try ca ... Superior Court Supreme Court venue
jury fees :: n. the rather minimal amount paid each day to juro ... ees as a court cost. See also: jury
lis pendens :: (lease pen-dense) n. Latin for "a suit pending," a ... ob can be penalized by court order.
long-arm statute :: n. law which gives a local state court jurisdictio ... rt jurisdiction over the defendant.
magistrate :: n. 1) a generic term for any judge of a court, or ... ce of the peace preliminary hearing
marshal :: 1) n. a federal court official who may serve paper ... tablish priorities among creditors.
municipal court :: n. a lower court which usually tries criminal misd ... nd/or small claims. See also: court
necessary party :: n. a person or entity whose interests will be affe ... o: indispensable party proper party
nisi prius :: : (nee-see pree-us) adj. Latin for "unless first," ... : original jurisdiction trial court
no fault insurance :: n: a type of automobile insurance required of car ... ling lawsuits. See also: negligence
notice :: n. 1) information, usually in writing in all legal ... Thirty-day notice three-day notice
pendent jurisdiction :: n. in federal procedure, the policy that allows a ... n. (It also may be spelled: pendant
police court :: n. in some states a type of municipal court which ... municipal court preliminary hearing
procedure :: n. the methods and mechanics of the legal process. ... cases are tried and judgments made.
process :: n. in law, the legal means by which a person is re ... service of process subpena summons
proper party :: n. a person or entity who has an interest (financi ... lf. See also: necessary party party
reports :: n. the published decisions of appeals courts in al ... ilable in almost all law libraries.
rules of court :: n. a set of procedural regulations adopted by cour ... s counsel. See also: procedure rule
settlement :: n. the resolution of a lawsuit (or of a legal disp ... ult in settlement. See also: settle
standing :: n. the right to file a lawsuit or file a petition ... so: actual controversy jurisdiction
status conference :: n. a pre-trial meeting of attorneys before a judge ... g a trial date. See also: discovery
statute of limitations :: n. a law which sets the maximum period which one c ... ies. See also: demurrer laches toll
Supreme Court :: n. 1) the highest court in the United States, whic ... rt in other states. See also: court
Tax Court :: n. a federal agency with courts in major cities wh ... Appeals. See also: court income tax
venue :: n. 1) the proper or most convenient location for t ... ion. See also: forum non conveniens

Popular Law Searches

legal definition ministerial act :: n. an act, particularly of a governmental employee ... exercising any individual judgment.
chancery legal definition :: n. a court that can order acts performed. Today ch ... ts in most states. See also: equity
testamentary disposition legal definition :: n. how the terms of a will divide the testator's ( ... named beneficiaries. See also: will
contract of sufferance :: n. a "hold-over" tenancy after a lease has expired ... y tenancy at will unlawful detainer
forthwith legal definition :: adv. a term found in contracts, court orders and s ... mediacy, with no excuses for delay.
forthwith definition legal :: adv. a term found in contracts, court orders and s ... mediacy, with no excuses for delay.
what is to wit in a legal contract :: prep. that is to say. Example: "the passengers in ... tty Bumgartner and Sherry Younger."
mirror wills legal definition :: n. the wills of a husband and wife which are ident ... d each names the other as executor.
clean hands doctrine latin :: n. a rule of law that a person coming to court wit ... ices. See also: affirmative defense
sine qua non only relates to contract law :: (see-nay kwah nahn) prep. Latin for "without which ... qua non of the injury to Playmate.

Other Law Terms - J

J :: n. abbreviation for Judge, as in the Hon. William ... as in the Hon. William B. Boone, J.
Jane Doe :: n. 1) a fictitious name used for a possible female ... lso: fictitious defendants John Doe
jaywalking :: n. walking across a street outside of marked cross ... jury to the jaywalker by a vehicle.
JD :: n. short for Juris Doctor, identifying the holder ... law degree. See also: Juris Doctor
jeopardy :: n. peril, particularly danger of being charged wit ... ar Evers. See also: double jeopardy
jobber :: n. a merchant who buys products (usually in bulk o ... buys and acts for specific clients.
John Doe :: n. 1) a fictitious name used for a possible male d ... lso: fictitious defendants Jane Doe
joinder :: n. the joining together of several lawsuits or sev ... er misjoinder multiplicity of suits
joinder of issue :: n. that point in a lawsuit when the defendant has ... matters are to be decided by trial.
joint :: adj., adv. referring to property, rights or obliga ... ncy joint venture tenancy in common
joint adventure :: n. when two or more people go together on a trip o ... e activity. See also: joint venture
joint and several :: adj. referring to a debt or a judgment for neglige ... ution contributory negligence joint
joint custody :: n. in divorce actions, a decision by the court (of ... em. See also: child custody divorce
joint enterprise :: n. a generic term for an activity of two or more p ... liability joint venture partnership
joint liability :: n. when two or more persons are both responsible f ... See also: joinder joint and several
joint powers agreement :: n. a contract between a city, a county and/or a sp ... istrict or other government entity.
joint tenancy :: n. a crucial relationship in the ownership of real ... ty property tenancy in common title
joint tortfeasors :: n. two or more persons whose negligence in a singl ... : comparative negligence negligence
joint venture :: n. an enterprise entered into by two or more peopl ... s terminated. See also: partnership
Jones Act :: n., adj. a federal law which covers injuries to cr ... ." See also: admiralty maritime law