Ottawa County Legal Self-Help Center

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N

NE EXEAT
A court order forbidding the person named in it from leaving the country, the state or the jurisdiction of the court.
NEGLECT HEARING
A hearing involving child abuse or a situation where a child is not being properly cared for. It is held in the family division of the circuit court.
NEGLIGENCE
When someone is not as careful as the law and our society expects him or her to be and hurts someone or something else.
NEXT FRIEND
A person assigned by the court to act for a minor or incompetent person who is a plaintiff in a civil action. For example, a parent may file a suit for a child as the child's next friend. See MCR 2.201(E) (1) (b).
NO CONTACT ORDER
A part of a court order that forbids the person who must obey the order from having contact with a person named in the order. For example, an order for the defendant's release before trial in a criminal case may have a provision that says the defendant cannot have contact (in person, or by phone, mail, email, etc) with the victim.
NO FAULT
A case that is decided without deciding which party in the case is at fault. In Michigan, automobile accident cases and divorce cases are "no-fault".
NO PROGRESS
In a civil case, where a case is filed but the parties don't do what is necessary to move the case to the next step. It may be dismissed or "thrown out" by the court.
NOL. PROS.
See NOLLE PROSEQUI.
NOLLE PROSEQUI
Latin meaning "unwilling to pursue." A formal statement by the prosecution that it will drop the charges against a defendant, which is entered into the court record.
NOLO CONTENDERE
Latin, meaning "I will not contest it." It is a plea to a criminal charge that is not an admission of guilt. By pleading nolo contendere, the defendant agrees to conviction and sentencing without a trial. But unlike a guilty plea, the defendant does not have to tell the court exactly what he or she did to commit the crime. So in a later civil trial, there won't be statements (the defendant's words) admitting guilt that can be used as evidence against the defendant.
NON-CUSTODIAL PARENT
The parent who does not have custody of a child. See CHILD CUSTODY.
NON OBSTANTE VEREDICTO
See J.N.O.V.
NON-SERVICE
The failure to properly "serve" the defendant, or give the defendant notice of the suit. In a criminal case it's where a warrant is issued but he defendant isn't arrested. In a civil case, it's where the summons was issued but the complaint never reached the defendant. See SERVICE OF PROCESS.
NONFEASANCE
The failure to perform some act or duty which should have been performed.
NOTARY
A person who the state or federal government authorizes to give oaths and to certify that a signature is really that person's signature or a paper is what is looks to be.
NOTARY PUBLIC
See NOTARY.
NOTICE OF ENTRY OF JUDGMENT
A court form telling the parties about the judge's decision in a lawsuit.
NOTICE OF HEARING
The paper that tells a person the time, date, and place of a hearing and what the hearing will be about.
NOTICE OF OPPOSITION TO CLAIM OF EXEMPTION
In small claims court, a paper filed by the judgment creditor (the person who won the court case and got an award of money) opposing the judgment debtor's (the person who lost the court case and owes the money) claim that certain money or property cannot be used to pay the money judgment owed.
NOTICE TO QUIT
1. A written notice by a landlord to a tenant demanding that the tenant move out and give up possession of the property.
2. A notice to pay back rent or fix a dangerous situation within seven days or leave. It is the first step a landlord must take to evict a tenant.
NOTIFICATION OF PARENTS, RECORD OF NOTICE
Whenever a child is taken into custody by police or any law enforcement officer, the officer must tell the child's parents. The officer must also keep a written record of how and when he or she told the parents or the reason why he or she could not tell the parents.
NUNC PRO TUNC
Latin meaning "now for then." An order allowing acts that were done after they should have been done (now) to be effective retroactively to when they should have been done (then). In effect, it treats an act done now as if it was done earlier, when it should have been done.