Glossary
Seizure is when an enforcement officer lawfully takes land or personal property to pay for money owed because of a court order. Often, the property is sold and the money is used to pay the creditor.
In Criminal Law
You are being self-incriminating if you do or say something that could:
- lead to you being charged with a criminal offence
- be used against you in court
In Abuse and Family Violence, Elder abuse, Health and Disability
The term “older adult” is usually used to describe someone who is over the age of 65. But there’s no set age for when someone is considered an older adult. Some people use the term “senior”.
We use older adult to refer to someone who may be affected by elder abuse, even if they’re younger than 65.
In Abuse and Family Violence, Criminal Law, Family Law, Immigration Law, Refugee Law
A sentence is a punishment given to someone found guilty of an offence. A sentence for an adult can include jail time, but it does not have to. A sentence can also include a fine or a period of probation. Sentences for youth are different.
In Criminal Law, Indigenous rights
Sentencing circles are an alternative to a sentencing hearing. It is a community-based process where community members try to agree on an appropriate sentence that everyone is satisfied with.
The sentencing circle includes the accused, an elder, judge, Crown, and lawyer. The circle might also include an Indigenous court worker, police or court officers, and members of the accused’s family, and the victim and their family.
Sentencing circles vary in structure and process but are generally based on restorative justice principles. This means that instead of punishing the accused, sentencing circles try to help the accused heal their relationship with the victim and with the community.
Sentencing circles are usually not available for people facing sentences that are longer than two years.
In Wills
A couple is separated when at least one partner decides to end their marriage or common-law relationship and starts to behave in a way that shows they want to end the relationship.
In estates law, separated married partners are treated differently than separated common-law partners.
There are rules that say when a married partner who’s separated can get property from their partner’s estate. And when they can be estate trustee if their partner named them for that role in their will.
But those rules do not apply to separated common-law partners.
In Family Law
A separation agreement, sometimes called a domestic contract, is a written contract that partners can make after they have separated or divorced that says how they will deal with their issues. For example, it can say how much spousal support and child support one partner will pay the other, and who will have custody of or access to the children. A separation agreement can deal with some or all of your family law issues.
A permanent resident can be ordered deported if they’re convicted of a serious crime. A crime is serious if either:
- the maximum sentence that the law says you can get is 10 or more years in prison, even if you get a shorter sentence or no time at all in prison, or
- the sentence that you actually get is more than 6 months in prison or jail.
In Family Law, Housing Law, Human Rights, Tribunals and Courts
Give or deliver a document to someone. Usually the law says how you can give or deliver the document, who has to get it, and the deadline by which they have to get it.
In Human Rights
A service is something that is offered to help meet a need. Some examples are:
- Stores, restaurants and bars
- Hospitals and health services
- Schools, universities and colleges
- Public places, amenities and utilities such as recreation centres, public washrooms, malls and parks
- Services and programs provided by municipal and provincial governments including social assistance and other benefits, and public transit
- Services provided by insurance companies
Services can be offered by individuals, companies, or the government.
