Person
An entity with legal rights and existence including the ability to sue
and be sued, to sign contracts, to receive gifts, to appear in court
either by themselves or by lawyer and, generally, other powers incidental
to the full expression of the entity in law. Individuals are "persons"
in law unless they are minors or under some kind of other incapacity
such as a court finding of mental incapacity. Many laws give certain
powers to "persons" which, in almost all instances, includes
business organisations that have been formally registered such as partnerships,
corporations or associations.
Personal
representative
In the law of wills, this is the general name given to the person who
administers the estate of a deceased person. There are two kinds of
personal representatives. Where a person dies without a will, the court
must appoint an administrator. Where a personal representative is named
in a will, the personal representative is known as an executor.
Petition
The formal, written document submitted to a court, and which asks for
the court to redress what is described in the petition as being an injustice
of some kind. Petitions set out the facts, identifies the law under
which the court is being asked to intervene, and ends with a suggested
course of action for the court to consider (eg. payment of damages to
the plaintiff). Petitions are normally filed by lawyers because courts
insist on complicated forms but most states will allow citizens to file
petitions provided they conform to the court's form. Some states do
not use the word "petition" and, instead, might refer to an
"application", a "complaint" or the "writ."
Pettifogger
A petty or underhanded lawyer or an attorney who sustains a professional
livelihood on disreputable or dishonourable business. The word has also
taken on an common usage definition referring to anyone prone to quibbling
over details.
Physical
custody
A child custody decision which grants the right to organise and administer
the day to day residential care of a child. This is usually combined
with legal custody.
Picket
To object publicly, on or adjacent to the employer's premises, to an
employer's labour practices, goods or services. The most common form
of picketing is patrolling with signs.
