Law lexicon
Primary authority - Constitutions, codes, statutes, ordinances, and case law sources
Private law - That law, such as a contract between two persons or a real estate transaction, which applies only to the persons who subject themselves to it
Privilege - A benefit or advantage to certain persons beyond the advantages of other persons, i.e., an exemption, immunity, power, etc
Pro se - For himself; in his own behalf. One who does not retain a lawyer and appears for himself in court.
Probable cause - A reasonable belief that a crime has or is being committed; the basis for all lawful searches, seizures, and arrests.
Probate - Court proceeding by which a will is proved valid or invalid. Term used to mean all proceedings pertaining to the administration of estates such as the process by which assets are gathered; applied to pay debts, taxes, and expenses of administration; and distributed to those designated as beneficiaries in the will. Conducted in states courts.
Probate court - The court with authority to supervise estate administration.
Probate estate - Estate property that may be disposed of by a will.
Probation - An alternative to imprisonment allowing a person found guilty of an offence to stay in the community, usually under conditions and under the supervision of a probation officer. A violation of probation can lead to its revocation and to imprisonment.
Source: Jurist International.
