LEGAL DICTIONARY
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This is a list of words which will be useful for you as a paralegal. We have tried to choose words that you may generally come across in working with the law, and words that are used a lot in this manual. So you will not find all the difficult words that are used in the manual in this dictionary.
Words that you can find elsewhere in this dictionary are in hyperlinked in red.
A B C D E F G I J L M N O P Q R S T U V W
Accessible
open, available, easy to get to
Accrual system
this applies to marriages after November 1984 which are out of community of property;
all income and assets that are gained during the marriage will be shared equally if there is a divorce
Accused
a person charged with a crime
Acting for
representing, a lawyer taking on a case for you
Action, civil
a case made by someone against another person or institution to claim money for damages or losses; also called civil claim or suing
Action, criminal
a case made by the state to punish someone who has committed a crime;
also called a criminal charge/case or prosecution
Acquitted
found not guilty
Ad hoc (committee or decision)
for this purpose only
Admissible
allowed as evidence in a court case
Admission
saying you did something or you know something without admitting guilt
Admission of guilt
admitting guilt for a small crime and paying a fine instead of going to court e.g. traffic fine
Advocate
a lawyer who specialises in court work; also called counsel
Affidavit
a written statement that is sworn to be the truth in front of a commissioner of oaths;
can be used as evidence in court
Affirm
swear in court that you will speak the truth, without swearing to God in the usual way
Agent
a person who is authorised to represent someone else
Aggravating factors
things that will cause you to get a heavier sentence, e.g. previous convictions,
causing bad injuries
Albeit
if
Alibi
your witness who can say you were doing something else at the time of the crime
Alien
a person who is not a citizen of the Republic of South Africa
Alleged / Allegation
when something has not yet been proved in court
Alternatively
or
Annuity
what you pay to an insurance company every year
Ante-nuptial contract
a contract made before a marriage to say what will happen to the property and possessions of the couple if they divorce
Anticipate
expect
Appeal
asking a higher court or authority to overrule the judgment, sentence or decision of a lower court or authority
Appellant
the person or institution making an appeal
Applicant
a person, a CC, a company or an institution who applies for something
For example, a person or institution that applies to the court for an interdict or court order. If a CC fills in a form to be registered for VAT, it is applying to be registered and is called the applicant. If you apply for a disability grant, you are called the applicant.
Apropos
to do with
Arbitration
people who have a disagreement agree to use a third person to hear the case and to make a decision
Argument
summing up at the end of a case, done by prosecutor and defence to state the strength of their case
Articled clerk
see candidate attorney
Assessor (court)
someone who helps a judge in the High Court
Assessor (property)
a person who is registered to decide what something is worth
Assets
property that you own, for example houses, cars, furniture, linen, books, money in the bank and insurance policies, that can be used to pay your debts
Assurance
making payments as insurance on your life
Attach property
to seize someone's property when they owe money, after getting a court order
Attorney
a lawyer who works in a law firm
Attorney-client privilege
whatever a client tells to an attorney is secret and cannot be told to anyone else without the client's permission
Attorney-General
see Director of Public Prosecutions
Authorise / Authority
to give / have permission or power to do something
Awaiting trial prisoner
being held in a police station or a prison between the time of arrest and the court case or bail hearing
Bail
money paid by the accused to the court so he\she can go free until the trial which will decide whether he/she is guilty or not
Balance of probabilities
the amount of proof that you need to win a civil action; when you weigh up the two sides in the civil action, you have to show that your story is stronger than the other side's story on a balance of probabilities
Bar Council
you can make a complaint to this body that controls advocates
Bargaining Council
body in an industry where workers and employers make agreements on wages and working conditions
Beneficiary
someone who gets money or property in a will as an heir or legatee
Benefit society
a society that offers insurance against illness, unemployment, etc.
Bequest
a legacy, something left to someone in a will
Beyond reasonable doubt
the amount of proof needed for someone to be guilty in a criminal trial;
the case has to be proved beyond reasonable doubt - there must be no doubt at all
Bill of Rights
a list of rights and freedoms for all people living in a country, which is part of the law of that country; South Africa has a Bill of Rights in our Constitution
Bona fide
in good faith, believing that you are doing something you have a right to do
Breach of contract
breaking the terms agreed on in a contract
By-law
law made by a local authority
Candidate attorney
someone with a law degree who works for a law firm for two years before qualifying as an attorney; used to be called an articled clerk
Capacity
see legal capacity
Case-docket
file opened by police when investigating a crime
c.f.
compare with
Chambers
the offices where advocates work
Charge-sheet
the paper in the Magistrate's Court that lists all the crimes that someone is charged with
Children's Court
special court at Magistrate's Court that decides cases affecting the welfare of children
Citizen's arrest
when you arrest someone that you see committing a serious crime or you have a good reason for thinking was involved in a serious crime, e.g. murder, rape, theft
Civil action / claim
claiming money through the civil court from a person who caused you harm
Clerk of the Court
official in Magistrate's Court who receives and issues legal papers
Client
the person you give advice to or act for as a paralegal or attorney
Commission of Enquiry
government-appointed investigation, often headed by a judge
Commissioner
person who decides cases in the Small Claims Court;
also used as abbreviation for Commissioner of Oaths, Commissioner of Inland Revenue, Compensation Commissioner, and so on
Commissioner of Oaths
person in front of whom an affidavit can be sworn, e.g. police, ministers, postmasters, bank managers
Common cause
what is agreed
Common law
laws not made by parliament that have been around for centuries, for things like murder, theft, assault, etc.
Community of property
all the possessions of a married couple are shared between them
Community Service Order
doing a sentence of community service in the community instead of going to prison
Compensation
money that a court orders you must be paid for damages or losses you suffered;
money paid from the Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Fund
Complainant
person who makes a criminal charge against someone else at a police station
Comprehensive Insurance
general insurance covering things like personal injuries, fire, theft and damage to property
Confession
admitting that you committed a crime
Consensus
agreement which eveyone is satisfied with
Consent
giving your permission or agreement to something
Consultation
meeting between lawyer and client
Contempt of Court
breaking a court order or showing disrespect for the court, e.g. swearing at the magistrate
Contract
written or verbal agreement between people
Conveyancer
lawyer specialising in property transfers
Conviction
found guilty of a crime by a court
Correctional supervision
a conditional release from prison, similar to parole and probation, where you are released and monitored by someone called a Correctional Official
Correspondent
local lawyer used by law firm from another town
Costs / Legal costs
expenses of a legal action
Counsel
advocate, lawyer who appears in court
Court order
an official order by a judge telling someone to do something or to stop doing something
Credit
when someone is allowed to buy things and pay them off later
Credit agreement
a written contract about how money owed will be paid off
Creditor
person money is owed to
Criminal charge / case / action
court case against someone who committed a crime
Criminal record
list of all the crimes you have been found guilty of; also called previous convictions
Cross-examination
chance for the other side in a court case to ask you questions about your evidence
Custody (arrest)
being held in police or prison cells
Custody (of children)
day-to-day care and control of a child who lives with you
Customary African law
the indigenous laws of African tradition
Customary union / marriage
marriage according to African customary law
Damages
money claimed for loss, harm or pain suffered
Debt
money which one person or institution owes another, e.g. Sarah owes Petrus R100 and she owes Thandi R200, so she has debts of R300
Debt collection
collecting of money owed
Debtor
person who owes money
Deed of sale
written sale agreement for the sale of land or houses
Deed of transfer
certificate of the transfer (handing over) of land or houses; proof of ownership of the land or house
Deeds office
goverment office where ownership of land is recorded
De facto
real or actual
De novo
new
Default judgment
judgment given against someone in a civil claim when they do not come to defend themselves
Defective goods
goods that have something wrong with them
Defence
legal reason to explain or excuse what you did, e.g. you hit someone because you were provoked
Defence / Defence counsel
lawyer or team of lawyers defending someone in a criminal case
Defendant
the person against whom a civil claim is made
Delict
a civil wrong done by one person against another, which might lead to a civil action
Demarcation
setting a limit, drawing a line between
Dependant
someone who is financially dependent on another person, e.g. a child on a parent
Deponent
person who makes an affidavit
Deposit
money paid when you buy something on credit
Deputy-Sheriff
court official who delivers legal documents in a High Court case
Deregulation
removing labour laws and regulations to make it easier to work or set up a business in an area or sector
Derogate
take away from
Detainee
person held in prison or police cells
Determine
decide
Desist
stop
Director of Public Prosecutions
boss of all the state prosecutors in a region, who decides about who should be charged in criminal cases
Disburse
pay or pay out
Discharge
court case being stopped because of a lack of evidence
Discovery
a legal procedure to get someone to show you what documents they have in their possession
District Courts
ordinary Magistrate's Courts in each big town
District Surgeon
doctor employed by the state to gather medical evidence for court cases, to treat prisoners, to give the public injections, etc.
Divorce Courts
courts where people can go to have divorce cases resolved more cheaply and quicker
Documents / Documentary evidence
legal papers which could also be used as evidence in court
Domiciled
living somewhere permanently
Duress
force or pressure
Estate
all the things and money that belonged to a person who has died
Evidence
information, including statements and documents, that is used as proof in a court case
Ex officio
arising out of or by virtue of a job or position, e.g. all police are ex officio peace officers
Ex parte application
a very urgent court application that is done verbally without written papers or without going through all the usual procedures (e.g. giving the other side a chance to get to court)
Ex post facto
afterwards or later
Excess
the first part of the claim that an insured person has to pay, e.g. out of a R1000 claim, the insured pays R200 and the insurance company the other R800
Exculpatory statement
a statement to the police where you state your innocence or you don't make any admissions
Executor
the person who sorts out the affairs of a dead person
Expert / Expert witness
someone who has specialist knowledge of something and who could be called to court to give evidence on this
Express terms
things written down or spoken in a contract
Expropriate
the state taking over land and paying the owner for the loss
Final order
when the court makes a final order, it replaces any previous (interim) court orders
Finance charges
payments made for using someone else's money, e.g.interest
Finding
decision of a court or a Commission of Enquiry
Foreclose
selling property to get back a loan made under a mortgage
Foster grant
money to pay for things like food, clothes and education for a child that has been entrusted to you by the state because her/his own parents do not look after it
Fraud
the crime of lying or deceiving in a way that causes harm to someone else
Fraudulent misrepresentation
lying on purpose
Freehold
the right to buy and own property (land, house or buildings)
Friendly society
a society for insurance against sickness, etc.
Further particulars
asking the other side to give you more details about the charge or the allegations in a criminal or civil case
Guarantee
a promise that things bought are in a good condition
Guardian
person who has legal authority over a child
Hearsay evidence
something you heard from someone else
Heir
a person who inherits from a will
High Court
higher court than Magistrate's Court, for serious cases or cases involving large amounts of money
Hire purchase agreement
see Instalment Sales Agreement
Identity parade
where you try to point out someone to be charged in a criminal case
Illegal
against the law, breaking the law
Immoveable property
property that you cannot move like land, houses and other buildings
Implied terms
things in a contract which are understood between the two sides even though they are not written down or spoken
In camera
a hearing or court case without members of the public present
In lieu of
instead of or in the place of
Income tax
tax on the money you get from employment or property
Indemnity
when the law says you cannot make case against someone even though they have done something wrong
Indictment
the paper in the High Court listing all the crimes someone is charged with
Inquest
judicial investigation into whether any person or group of people was responsible for the death of someone who did not die of natural causes
Insolvency
bankruptcy, when you owe more money than you have in money or possessions; when a person does not have enough assets to pay their debts, the court will say that the person is insolvent and appoint someone to manage the insolvent person's affairs
Instalment
money paid by a buyer each week or month
Instalment Sales Agreement
a contract where the buyer pays off the price of something in instalments, and the seller usually stays the owner until the last instalment has been made
Instruct / Instructions
telling someone, e.g. a lawyer, what to do
Insurance
protecting yourself against loss by making certain payments
Inter alia
among other things
Interdict
a court order to protect someone or to force someone to do something
Interest
money charged to you when you borrow money; money you earn when you lend money e.g. when you keep your money in a bank account you are lending the bank the money
Interim order
a court order that is temporary (for the time being) and not final
Intestate
dying without a will
Invoice
a paper saying what was sold and what it cost
Ipso facto
by/through that fact
Issue / Issuing
when the court official puts the offical stamp on a document
Judgment
decision made by judge or magistrate
Judicial
to do with the courts
Junior counsel
an ordinary or junior advocate, who assists a senior, more experienced advocate in a court case
Jurisdiction
the powers and functions of a court or other institution
Justices of the Peace
senior public officials who are given powers by the government to keep the peace and to perform certain tasks in an area, e.g. magistrates, state advocates, lieutenants or higher ranks in the SAPS or SANDF
Juvenile Courts
special courts at the Magistrate's Court which decide cases where the accused is a juvenile
Labour Court
court where workers can make a case against their employers or employers can make a case against workers
Latent defects
problems or faults in things that you buy that the eye cannot see
Law Society
you can make a complaint to this body that controls the work of attorneys
Lawful
done with power given by the law
Lawyer
general name for someone who has a law degree
Lease
contract that allows someone to rent the property of another person
Leasehold
the right to rent property for a certain length of time
Legacy
a bequest, something left to someone in a will
Legal
something that the law allows, not breaking the law
Legal Aid
state assistance to someone who can't afford a lawyer
Legal Aid Board
you can appeal or make a complaint to this body about Legal Aid
Legal capacity
ability in law to take legal action or to have action taken against you
Legatee
someone who benefits from a legacy (bequest) in a will
Legislation
laws passed by parliament
Lessee
a person who rents something from someone else
Lessor
a person who rents something to someone else
Letter of demand
letter demanding payment in a civil claim
Levy
a tax
Liable / Liability
when by law you are responsible for something or owe money; if a person or a company owes someone money, then they are liable for paying that money and can be taken to court if they don't pay; if the person owes R1 000, then their liability is R1 000
Lien
the right to keep something you have repaired until the owner pays you for the work
Lieu / in lieu of
instead of, in the place of, e.g. salary in lieu of notice
Life policy
insurance that gets paid out when someone dies
Liquidation
declaring a company bankrupt
Litigant
a person who takes legal action
Litigation
legal action
Lockout
employers keeping workers out of the workplace to force them to come to an agreement
Locus standi
legal standing, the right to bring a case to court, e.g. a child does not have locus standi
Magistrate's Courts
lower courts run by a magistrate
Maintenance
money paid by a parent to the person looking after his/her children e.g. by the father to mother if he does not live with her and his children; also money paid to a divorced wife by her ex-husband
Maintenance Court / Officer
place and person for sorting out maintenance problems at the Magistrate's Court
Mala fide
something done in bad faith, not in the way or in the spirit it should be done
Malicious
when someone causes harm or damage on purpose
Marriage (civil)
registered marriage that took place in front of a magistrate or a minister of certain religions
Marriage (common law)
living together without being legally married
Matter
case or legal problem
Means test
test used to decide whether someone is poor enough to get Legal Aid or state grants
Mediation
using a go-between to help sort out a disagreement between people
Messenger of the Court
court official who delivers court papers in the Magistrate's Court
Minor
person under 21
Misrepresentation
making a false or incorrect statement
Mitigation / Mitigating factors
reasons why someone who has been found guilty of a crime should get a light sentence
Mortgage / Mortgage bond
signing away part of your house as security for a loan;
if you do not pay back the loan, the house can be sold to pay back the money
Mutatis mutandis
with the necessary changes
Negligent / Negligence
not being careful enough
Negotiation
when people who have a disagreement talk to each other to try and sort it out
No-claim bonus
a discount given in insurance payment if no claims have been made for a long time
Nolle prosequi
the certificate that the Director of Public Prosecutions writes when he/she decides not to prosecute someone
Notary public
an attorney who specialises in certifying or drawing up legal documents
Notice (civil claim)
special kind of letter of demand, e.g. in cases against the police, where you demand payment by a certain date
Notice (work)
period of advance warning that someone gets before being dismissed from work
Notice of intention to defend
after a summons is served on someone in a civil claim, they can send back a paper to say they will defend themselves against the claim
Notice of motion
a paper sent by the applicant in an interdict or other court application to the person against whom the case is made, to let them know
Oath
swearing that something is the truth
Offence
crime
Oral evidence
telling your story in court
Order of court
see court order
Ordinance
law made by a provincial council
Out-of-court settlement
see settlement
Paralegal
a person without a law degree who has legal skills, knowledge and experience
Parole
being released from prison on condition that you do not misbehave
Particulars of claim
a document in which the legal grounds for a civil claim are set out
Party
one of the sides or people involved in a court case or legal dispute
Peace Officers
public officials who through their job have certain powers to keep the public peace, e.g. the power of all members of the SAPS to arrest or search you
Peace Order
an official letter from a magistrate to someone warning them that if they do not stop certain behaviour, they will be arrested and charged, e.g. to a man who is beating a woman
Pending
being held over or waiting for, e.g. pending a decision
Pension fund
fund which usually immediately when you retire pays you out one third of what you have paid in and two thirds over the rest of your life
Per se
in itself
Perjury
lying under oath in court or in a sworn statement
Place of Safety
a home for children who have no-one to look after them
Plaintiff
the person who makes a civil claim
Plea / Plead
saying 'guilty' or 'not guilty' to charges in a criminal case; also stating your defence in a civil action
Pleadings
documents in civil actions where the parties set out their cases
Pointing out
showing the police some place, person or thing;
a kind of evidence that can be used against you in court
Post-mortem
medical examination of dead body to find cause of death
Power-of-attorney
a legal document you sign giving someone else the right to do certain things for you, e.g. collect your wages
Precedent
example or standard that can be used or followed in future
Premium
amount paid each year for insurance
Prescribe / Prescription period
time-limit before a case falls away
Previous convictions
see criminal record
Prima facie
at first sight, as it looks at first
Prisoner's Friend
Magistrate's Court official who can help you with things like getting money to pay for bail or fines
Private prosecution
a special kind of criminal case you can make when the Director of Public Prosecutions decides not to prosecute someone
Privatisation
where the government sells public services to private owners, e.g. telephone and electricity supplies
Pro deo counsel
see Public Defenders
Probation
a trial period where people, often juveniles, have a chance to prove that they can behave
Probation Officer
person, usually a social worker, who has to make sure that someone on probation behaves themselves
Procedural
to do with procedures and process rather than the content of something
Professional Assistant
fully qualified attorney who works in a law firm, but who is not a partner in the firm
Profit
all the money a business gets in minus all the money the business spends on costs
Example: Busy Bees pre-school looks after 30 children. The parents each pay R50 per month to Busy Bee. The pre-school therefore gets 30 times R50, which is R1 500 (the turnover). There are two teachers, who are paid R450 each per month. Per month electricity and water costs R10; cooldrink and bread for the children costs R200; and crayons and paper and so on costs R100. All the costs together add up to R1 210. The profit is worked out by taking the R1 500 turnover, and subtracting the R1 210 costs. The profit is therefore R290 per month.
Proof
enough evidence to win or at least to make a good case
Prosecute / Prosecution
bringing a case against someone accused of breaking the law
Prosecutor
see state prosecutor
Provident fund
fund which usually pays you out all your pension money immediately as a lump sum
Provisional taxpayer
someone who owns a business or earns more than R50 000 per year must register as a provisional taxpayer with the Receiver of Revenue; this means that she or he pays all her or his tax 2 or 3 times a year
Provisions
rules made by a law
Public Defender
government-employed lawyers who have the job of defending people who can't afford lawyers in criminal cases
Public Protector
public official appointed by the government to investigate complaints of corruption and unlawful actions by government officials or civil servants
Quid pro quo
one thing for another, exchange
Rebates
amounts taken off the tax you have to pay
Re-examination
the time after cross-examination in a court case where your lawyer gets a chance to ask you some more questions
Receipt
paper to prove money was paid or to claim back things taken away from you
Recognition agreement
document signed by employers saying that a union is allowed to organise their employees; also contains agreements on retrenchments, disciplinary procedure, etc.
Reformatory
a special kind of prison for juveniles
Regional Courts
higher Magistrate's Courts in large towns or cities that have more powers than District (Magistrate's) Courts
Registrar
court official at the High Court, responsible for issuing documents and setting dates for cases
Regulation
a law made by a government minister who is given the authority to do so
Reinstatement
re-employing a dismissed worker
Retrenchment
an employer cutting down on his / her workforce by paying off workers
Remand
postpone
Remission
time taken off a prison sentence for good behaviour
Repossession
taking back goods sold on credit if instalments are not paid on time
Respondent
person against whom an application (including an interdict), or an appeal, is made
Restrain
to stop
Return day
the date when a court application (including an interdict) will come back to court for a decision or for the next step to be taken; also called a rule nisi
Review
higher court looking at decisions made by lower courts or authorities, to see if anything was done wrongly, e.g. correct procedures were not followed
Roadworthy certificate
a document saying a vehicle is fit to be driven
Rule nisi
see return day
Sectional title
ownership of part of a building or block of flats
Security
being a surety or cover for someone, especially to pay money
Self-incrimination / Right against self-incrimination
the right to stay silent and not to say things which can be used agianst you in court
Senior Counsel
a senior advocate who will work with a junior advocate in a court case
Sequestration
the process for declaring someone bankrupt or insolvent
Serve / Service
when official court documents are delivered to you and you have to sign to say you have received them
Servitude
right to use land that belongs to someone else without paying rent
Set aside
to cancel
Settlement
agreement between parties in a civil claim to accept what is offered and to stop the court case
Sine die
without a date; when an application is postponed without a fixed date being set for when the case will carry on
Sine qua non
essential part or requirement
Small Claims Court
court for civil claims up to R3 000
Solvent
able to pay debts
Specific performance
when a court orders someone to do exactly what they promised under a contract
Spoliation order
special court order to immediately get back something that was taken away from you
Stamp duty
a tax you have to pay on freehold property
State advocate
advocate who works in the Director of Public Prosecutions' office and who represents the state in court
State prosecutor
person who presents the case against the accused in a criminal case; lawyer for the state
State witness
witness used by the prosecutor to prove the case against the accused
Statement
a written or verbal account of what happened, which could be used as evidence in court
Status quo
the position or situation as it is now, without any change
Statutes
laws passed by parliament; also called Acts
Sub judice
being heard in court (usualy used to say the media cannot comment on a case because it is still being heard)
Submit / Submission
stating something which is an opinion or allegation
Subpoena
official paper used to tell witnesses they must come to court to give evidence
Subsidy
a hand-out of money for things like housing, usually from the government or an employer
Substantive
to do with the content or substance of something, not the procedures involved
Succession
law dealing with what happens to people's property after they die
Sue / Suing
to claim money through a civil action from someone who caused you damage
Summary dismissal
being sacked without notice or notice pay
Summons (civil)
a document that contains a demand for money and starts a civil
action
Summons (criminal)
a document calling a person to come to court to stand trial for breaking the law
Supreme Court of Appeal
the highest court in the country (except for the Constitutional Court)
Surety
being a security for someone, by paying or being in a position to pay money, e.g. helping with bail
If one person signs a piece of paper saying that they will pay another person's debt if that person cannot pay the debt, they have stood surety for that person. For example, Vuyiswa owes Paul R500. Nolita signs a piece of paper which says that if Vuyiswa cannot pay Paul the money she owes him, then Nolita will pay Paul the money. Nolita has stood surety for Vuyiswa. If Nolita refuses to pay Paul, he can take her to court.
Suspended sentence
part of a prison sentence or fine is put off or postponed and will only happen if the same crime is committed within a stated time
Sworn statement
statement sworn under oath, which is strong evidence in court; also called affidavit
Tariff
the lists of what to charge for different kinds of legal work, which lawyers are meant to follow
Tenant
a person who rents property from a landlord/lady
Tenure
way of possessing or occupying, e.g. land tenure
Testate
having a valid will
Testator
person who makes a valid will
Testify
give evidence in court
Third party
someone other than the two parties who make an agreement
Third party insurance
automatic insurance for all cars to pay people who are injured in car accidents
Title deed
the legal document which shows who owns a property
Transfer duty
the tax you have to pay when land is transferred
Trespass
to go onto or stay on property without the permission of the owner
Trial
court case
Trial-within-a-trial
a trial held as part of another trial to decide whether certain evidence will be allowed
Turnover
all the money which comes into the business from the things or the service which the business sells, without subtracting the money which is spent on the business, such as wages, materials and so on, e.g. Busy Bees pre-school looks after 30 children and the parents each pay R50 per month to Busy Bee, so the turnover is 30 times R50, which is R1 500
(Turnover is different to profit. To work out the profit, you subtract the costs from the turnover.)
Ultra vires
beyond the authority given by law
Unfair dismissal
where an employer unlawfully fires a worker
Unfair labour practice
employers doing something that the law or the courts say is unfair
Unlawful
outside the powers given by law
Urgent application
applying to the High Court for an urgent court order or interdict
Usufruct
the right to use and enjoy the fruits of land that belongs to someone else
Valid
well-based or good in law, e.g. a valid claim
Visa
permit to enter a country
Vis-a-vis
to do with
Viz.
namely
Voetstoots
just as it is
Wage determination
regulations for wages and working conditions in a specific industry or area
Warning / Released on warning
released without bail and warned to appear on a certain date
Warrant
a document issued by a magistrate (or sometimes a police officer of rank of lieutenant or higher) that gives permission for things like arrests, searches, and evictions
Warrant of Execution
document giving court officials the right to take away certain property to cover your debts
Warranty
see guarantee
Will
a signed document saying what must happen to a person's possessions after they die
Wind up
collect all possessions and money that belong to an estate and pay all the debts
Witness
person who saw something and may give evidence in a court case
Witness's friend
a person at the Magistrate's Court who explains witnesses' rights and pays their transport costs