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