A marriage that is valid until declared invalid. The grounds for invalidation of marriage vary depending on state. Common grounds for voiding a marriage include that one of the parties is below the age of consent, a party was incapable of consenting...
family & personal matters
wage attachment
Wage attachment, also known as wage garnishment, is a court order by which the court attaches debtors' wages to help pay their creditors by directly transferring the wages to the creditors. Although a wage attachment order can be obtained...
Ward
Courts may appoint guardians to care for people who cannot properly take care of themselves, due to age or legal incompetence. These protected people are the wards of their guardians.
widow
According to 17 USC § 101 a widow is a person whose spouse died during their marriage and has not since remarried. Also known as a surviving spouse.
[Last updated in March of 2022 by the Wex Definitions Team]
widow's election
See: elective share
[Last updated in September of 2021 by the Wex Definitions Team]
widower
A widower is a person whose spouse died during their marriage and has not since remarried.
[Last updated in May of 2022 by the Wex Definitions Team]
youthful offender
A youthful offender is an adolescent who committed a crime, who may not be tried in an adult court; instead will be tried in a juvenile court. The youthful offenders may take some responsibility for the unlawful behavior and may not be...