Glossary
Legal Terms in Plain English
Short definitions of words that show up in Ohio injury, property, estate, and business matters. Each entry links to a fuller page when you want more depth.
- Comparative negligence
Ohio's shared-fault rule in many injury cases. Your recovery can be reduced by your percentage of fault, and if you are found more than 50% at fault you typically cannot recover from the other party.
- Intestacy
Dying without a valid will. Ohio statutes — not informal family agreements — decide who inherits and in what shares.
- Living will
A document stating your wishes about life-sustaining treatment in specific end-of-life circumstances. It is not the same as a last will and testament or a health care power of attorney.
- LLC (limited liability company)
A business entity that, when properly formed and maintained, can help separate business liabilities from personal assets. Filing articles alone is not enough — operating agreements and day-to-day habits matter.
- Mechanic's lien
A statutory lien that unpaid contractors or suppliers may assert against property improved by their work or materials. Notice and timing rules are technical and deadline-driven.
- MedPay (medical payments coverage)
Optional coverage on many auto policies that can help pay medical expenses after a crash regardless of fault, up to the purchased limit — often useful while liability is still being sorted out.
- Operating agreement
The internal contract for an LLC covering ownership, voting, distributions, and what happens if an owner dies, divorces, or wants out. Useful even for single-member LLCs.
- Power of attorney
A document authorizing someone to act for you. A financial power of attorney covers property and money; a health care power of attorney covers medical decisions. These are incapacity tools, not inheritance documents.
- Probate
The court process of administering a decedent's estate — appointing an executor or administrator, inventorying assets, paying claims, and distributing property.
- Quitclaim deed
A deed that transfers whatever interest the grantor has, with no warranties of title. Useful in some family or clearing situations; risky when you need title guarantees.
- Strict liability (dog bites)
Under Ohio Revised Code 955.28, a dog's owner, keeper, or harborer is generally liable for injuries the dog causes without the victim having to prove the dog was known to be dangerous — subject to statutory exceptions.
- TOD deed (transfer on death)
An Ohio designation that can pass real estate to a named beneficiary outside probate when requirements are met. It is not a complete estate plan by itself.
- Warranty deed
A deed in which the grantor makes promises about title (a general warranty deed being the strongest common form). Contrast with a quitclaim deed, which makes no such promises.
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