Ottawa County Legal Self-Help Center

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I

IV-D or 4-D
Refers to Title IV D of the Social Security Act. That federal law makes each state set up a program to make sure that child support gets paid. A person who gets public assistance money must be helped by the program, and other parents who need help collecting child support may be helped by the program if they meet certain rules.
ILLEGITIMATE CHILD
A child born to a man and a woman who are not married to each other.
IMPEACHMENT OF WITNESS
Questioning of a witness by a the other side's lawyer to try to show that the witness is not believable or telling the truth.
IN PRO PER
IN PROPRIA PERSONA
INACTIVE CASE
A case that is on hold for some reason. Usually, it was filed in the court, but for some reason cannot be processed by the court for some reason.
INCARCERATION
Being kept in jail or prison.
INCOME
Money a person receives; any regular payment to someone like wages, salaries, commissions, bonuses workers' compensation, disability, or pension payments and social security.
INCOME WITHHOLDING ORDER
A court order that authorizes withholding part of a person's income (paycheck) to make pay child support as ordered.
INDEPENDENT PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE
A person who takes care of and gives away the property of a person who has died (the estate) without being supervised by the court.
INDEPENDENT PROBATE
Probate (the handling of a person's estate) what works without the involvement of the probate court.
INDIGENT
Needy; poor; someone without money.
INFORMAL HEARING
INFORMATION
A formal accusation (criminal information) of a crime. It lists what crimes a defendant is charged with. It is the official document that brings a defendant before the circuit court once there is a bindover in the district court. Unlike an "indictment" (which is also a formal accusation of the crime the defendant is charged with) it is prepared and signed by the prosecuting attorney and not the grand jury.
INHERITANCE
Property received from someone who dies, whether by will or by law. See also INTESTATE SUCCESSION.
INTER VIVOS
Latin meaning between living persons. Usually it refers to a gift to someone while the giver is alive, in contrast with a gift by a will, after the giver has died.
INTERESTED PARTY
Under the Michigan Revised Probate Code, one of the following: an heir, devisee, or beneficiary; or the fiduciary (the person who has the duty to act in their best interest) of a legally incapacitated person who is an heir, devisee, or beneficiary.
INTERESTED PERSON
Under the Michigan Revised Probate Code, one of the following: interested party; creditor; surety; or someone who may be affected by what happens in the probate court. Any person having a property right in a trust.
INTERIM BOND
The bond a police officer sets when a person is arrested for a misdemeanor offense without a warrant. Paying the bond gets the person out of jail until he or she is arraigned on the charge.
INTERIM ORDER
A temporary court order that is in effect until something else happens or until the final decision is made in the case and final order is issued.
INTERLOCUTORY APPEAL
An appeal of a decision made by the court during the course of an action, but before the final order or outcome of the action.
INTERROGATORIES
Written questions by a party's lawyers given to the other party before trial, who must answer them in writing under oath. See DISCOVERY.
INTERSTATE
Involving two or more states.
INTERSTATE INCOME WITHHOLDING ORDER
A court order withholding income earned in Michigan to pay child support to a parent in another state.
INTESTATE
Dying without having made a valid will.
INTESTATE SUCCESSION
In cases where a person who has died (the decedent) did not have a valid will, it is how the law decides which relatives or family members will inherit the decedent's property. The law states that spouses and children are the first people to inherit the property, and if there are none living, then it goes to other family members-for example, parents, brothers and sisters, etc.
INVENTORY
A list of the assets of a person who has died (the decedent) or someone whose property is being managed by the probate court that is filed in the probate court. The property included on the inventory is managed the fiduciary (the personal representative or conservator, for example).
INVENTORY FEE
A fee set by law that is paid to the probate court to manage the decedent's (the person who has died) property. It is based on the value of the property or "inventory".
ISSUE
1. Of a person: The people in the family line that are that person's lineal descendants, that is the children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, etc.
2. In a pleading: A single, certain, and relevant point, the people in a lawsuit raise in their claims and papers, about which the parties disagree, and which must be decided by the judge or jury.