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Legal words, in plain language

Quick, jargon-free definitions of common legal terms. Highlighted words elsewhere on the site link back here.

affordable housing: Housing that costs a manageable share of a household’s income and is intended to remain available to people with lower incomes.
at-will employment: A rule in most states letting an employer fire you for almost any reason — but never an illegal one, like discrimination or retaliation.
background check: An employer's or landlord's review of your criminal, credit, or work history. There are limits on how it can be used against you.
class action: A lawsuit brought by one or more people on behalf of a larger group who experienced similar harm or legal violations.
constructive eviction: When a landlord makes a home unlivable to force you out without going to court.
counterclaim: A claim brought by the person being sued against the person who filed the lawsuit, usually in the same court case.
creditor: A person or company you owe money to, such as a lender, a card issuer, or a debt collector.
debt validation: Your right to make a collector prove a debt is really yours before you pay.
default judgment: A court decision entered because the person being sued did not respond or appear by the deadline. In an eviction case, missing court can cause the landlord to win automatically.
defendant: The person or company being sued or accused in a court case.
demand letter: A formal written request — for repairs, wages, or a refund — that you can use to negotiate your case.
discrimination: Illegal unfair treatment based on a protected trait such as race, gender, disability, or national origin.
eviction: The legal process a landlord must follow to make a tenant leave. It usually requires a court order — not just a notice.
expungement: A legal process that clears or seals an old arrest or conviction so it no longer shows on most background checks.
final paycheck: The last wages an employer owes you after you quit or are fired, including pay for every hour you worked.
garnishment: A court order that lets a creditor take part of your paycheck or bank account to pay a debt.
habitability: A landlord's legal duty to keep a rental safe and livable — working heat, water, locks, and no serious hazards.
hostile work environment: Harassment at work so severe or constant that it makes the job abusive — often based on a protected trait.
judgment: A court's final decision in a lawsuit. A money judgment can let the winner collect through garnishment or liens.
landlord: The owner of a rental property, or the manager acting for the owner, who rents housing to tenants.
lease: A written rental agreement between a tenant and a landlord that sets the rent, the term, and each side's responsibilities.
Low-Income Housing Tax Credit: A federal program that gives tax credits to developers and owners who provide affordable rental homes. Properties using LIHTC generally must follow rules that protect affordability for a set period.
minimum wage: The lowest hourly pay an employer is legally allowed to pay most workers.
misclassification: When an employer wrongly labels an employee as an "independent contractor" to avoid paying overtime, taxes, or benefits.
notice to vacate: A written notice from a landlord asking a tenant to leave by a certain date. It is not the same as a court eviction order.
overtime: "Time and a half," or 1.5x your regular rate of pay, for hours worked beyond 40 in a week.
plaintiff: The person or company that starts a lawsuit by filing a complaint against someone.
preliminary injunction: A temporary court order that requires someone to stop an action or take a specific action while a case continues. It can protect people from immediate harm before a final decision.
retaliation: Illegal punishment for asserting your rights — like being fired or evicted for filing a complaint.
right to counsel: The right to have a lawyer represent you in a legal case. Kansas City tenants facing eviction may qualify for free representation through the local Right to Counsel program.
security deposit: Money you pay a landlord up front that must be returned (minus lawful, itemized deductions) after you move out.
severance: Extra pay or benefits some employers offer when a job ends. It is usually optional unless a contract requires it.
small claims court: A simple, low-cost court for disputes over smaller amounts of money, where you usually don't need a lawyer.
statute of limitations: The deadline for filing a legal claim. After it passes, you usually lose the right to sue.
summons: An official court document telling you that you're being sued and that you must respond by a deadline.
tenant: A person who rents and lives in a home owned by someone else.
unemployment benefits: Temporary payments from the state to workers who lost a job through no fault of their own.
unlawful detainer: A type of lawsuit a landlord uses when a tenant stays after the landlord says the tenancy has ended. The landlord may ask the court for eviction, rent, or damages.
wage theft: When an employer doesn't pay what you earned — including unpaid hours, tips, overtime, or your final paycheck.
whistleblower: Many laws protect whistleblowers from being punished for speaking up.
workers' compensation: Insurance that pays for medical care and lost wages when you're injured or made sick because of your job.