Glossary of Legal Terms F

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FAIR COMMENT: term used in libel law applying to statements relating to matters of public concern made by a writer in honest belief that they are true, even though they are not.

FALSE ARREST: arresting an individual without proper legal authority.

FALSE PRETENSES: purposely misrepresenting a fact or condition in order to obtain another's money or goods.

FAMILY ALLOWANCE: money set aside from the estate of a deceased to provide for surviving family members during administration of the estate.

FAMILY COURT: court having jurisdiction over such family matters as child abuse and neglect, support, paternity, and custody.

FELONY: serious crime punishable by imprisonment for more than a year or death and/or substantial fines.

FIDUCIARY (fih DOO she AIR ee): person having a legal relationship of trust and confidence with another and a duty to act primarily for other's benefit, e.g., guardian, trustee, or executor.

FILE: to place a paper in custody of the clerk of court/court administrator to enter into the official files or records of a case.

FINDING: formal conclusion by judge, jury, or regulatory agency on issues of fact.

FINE: money penalty imposed in criminal or civil action.

FORCIBLE ENTRY AND DETAINER: summary proceeding for restoring possession of land to one who has been wrongfully deprived of it.

FOREGERY: falsely and fraudulently making or altering a document, e.g., a check

FRAUD: intentional deception to deprive another person of property or to injure that person in some other way.