Legal Terms

Accusation..................................................................... Denuncia
Accused person................................................................. Acusado
Alimony ........................................................... Pensión alimenticia
Appeal ........................................................................... Apelación
Appearance in court ............................................... Comparecencia
Bail..................................................................................... Fianza
Case ...................................................................................... Caso
Civil law .................................................................... Derecho civil
Court .................................................................... Tribunal / corte
Court of appeals ...............................................Corte de apelaciónes
Criminal law............................................................. Derecho penal
Custody ..................................................................Patria potestad
Defend ............................................................................ Defender
Defense attorney ..................................................Abogado defensor
District Attorney ................................................................. Fiscal
Embezzlement...................................................................Desfalco
Eye witness................................................................ Testigo ocular
False witness.................................................................Testigo falso
Fees .............................................................................. Honorarios
Fight case .................................................................. Pelear el caso
Fine .....................................................................................Multa
Fraud.................................................................................. Fraude
Guilt................................................................................... Culpa
Guilty.............................................................................. Culpable
Hearing......................................................................... Audiencia
Higher court ............................................................ Corte superior
House arrest .................................................... Arresto domiciliario
Illegal .................................................................... Ilegal, prohibido
Impediment to leave country ....................... Impedimento de salida
Innocent .......................................................................... Inocente
Judge......................................................... Juez (masc),Jueza (fem)
Jury ................................................................................... Jurado
Law suit .........................................................................Demanda
Lawyer .............................................................................Abogado
Lawyer's bar................................................... Colegio de Abogados
Legal ................................................................................... Legal
Legal form ................................................................. Papel sellado
Lower court ..............................................................Corte inferior
Not guilty ....................................................... No culpable/absuelto
Plea .................................................................................. Alegato
Ruling ................................................................................... Fallo
Plaintiff .................................................................... Demandante
Property ......................................................................... Propiedad
Prosecutor ............................................................Fiscal/procurador
Sentence ............................................................ Condena/sentencia
Suit ................................................................................Demanda
Summons ........................................................................Citación
Take the case (lawyer)............................................... Llevar el caso
Take to trial ..............................................................Llevar a juicio
Testify ............................................................................ Declarar
Testify against......................................... Testificar / declarar contra
Testify for ......................................... Tesitificar / declarar a favor de
Trial ..................................................................................... Juicio
Try ......................................................................Juzgar / enjuiciar
Verdict .................................................................................. Fallo
Will .............................................................................. Testamento Witness ...............................................................................Testigo

*From Christopher Howard's Guide to Costa Rican Spanish

"Baby boomers are redefining retirement - and leading the move to a new generation of dream countries"

AARP Magazine

Christopher Howard's The New Golden Door to Retirement and Living in Cost Rica, is important when doing research about moving to Costa Rica.

By Hillary Chura
New York Times
July 30, 2005