Superior Court >Civil Department >Glossary Of Common Terms Glossary of Common Terms Garnishee A person or entity, such as an employer, that owes money to or holds property of someone against whom the court has entered a money judgment. Garnishment A legal proceeding to enforce a judgment whereby a creditor seeks to obtain payment from a debtor and the debtor can be compelled to pay. Sometimes used by litigants in place and instead of a “Wage Assignment” in family court. A person’s wages would be garnished for debts other than child support, such as credit card, car payment or medical bills. Civil hearing action sometimes referred to as a Judgment Debtor Exam. Bench Warrant A written request from the court to a law enforcement agency to arrest and detain a person who has failed to appear for a court date or abide by a court order. General Jurisdiction Court A court that has the authority to hear all legal actions not exclusively assigned to another court. Governing Instrument A deed; will; trust; insurance or annuity policy; account with pay on death designation; security registered in beneficiary form; pension, profit sharing, retirement or similar benefit plan; instrument creating or exercising a power of appointment or a power of attorney or a dispositive, appointive or nominative instrument of any similar type. Governors Warrant A warrant issued for the arrest of a person charged with a crime in another state when that state demands the surrender of a person so charged. Grand Jury (County) Sixteen citizens who have qualified for jury service and have the responsibility to look into public offenses. The County Attorney may choose to present evidence to a grand jury and ask them to return a criminal indictment. An indictment or “True Bill” is a formal accusation charging the commission of a public offense, which may be tried within a county. In order to indict, at least nine members of the grand jury must agree there is probable cause to believe that the person under investigation is guilty of the offense charged. Grand Jury (State) A jury with the same responsibilities as a county grand jury except that its jurisdiction is statewide. Gravely Disabled Likely, as a result of a mental disorder, to come to serious physical harm or serious illness because the person is unable to provide for his/her basic physical needs. Gross Income Includes income from any source and may include but is not limited to income from salaries, wages, commissions, bonuses, dividends, severance pay, pensions, interest, trust income annuities and capital gains. May also include social security benefits, workmen’s compensation benefits, unemployment insurance benefits, disability insurance benefits, gifts, prizes and spousal maintenance received. Grounds Reason for divorce. The term is not used in Arizona; Arizona is a no-fault state. Arizona requires that the marriage be irretrievably broken with no reasonable prospect of reconciliation in order to grant a divorce. Guardian A person who has qualified as a guardian of a minor or incapacitated person pursuant to testamentary or court appointment except for anyone who is merely a guardian ad litem. Guardian ad Litem A guardian appointed by the court to defend for or prosecute a minor or incapacitated person in any lawsuit to which he/she may be a party. (family law) Known as a “Best Interests Attorney” and appointed by the court to represent a child’s best interests. Guilty Plea A defendant’s admission that he/she committed the acts charged in the complaint, that the acts are prohibited by law and that he/she has no legal defense for such acts. return to top