The term competent is used in various legal contexts, including procedure, evidence, and employment. More generally, it refers to the ability to act in the circumstances, including the ability to perform a job or occupation, the capacity to reason, or to make decisions.
Compos mentis is Latin for “having control/mastery of one’s mind.” The term is used to describe individuals who are of sound mind; those who are mentally competent and capable of managing their own affairs; those who have use of and control over their mental faculties.
The opposite term is non compos mentis.
Consent means that a person voluntarily and willfully agrees in response to another person's proposition. The person who consents must possess sufficient mental capacity.
A conservatee is a person deemed incompetent by a court; therefore, a court-appointed conservator handles their financial and/or other daily life affairs.
A conservator is an individual who handles the financial or daily life affairs of a conservatee, or a party deemed incompetent by a court.
A conservatorship is the appointment of a conservator by the court to manage a person’s affairs who is unable to handle them due to their mental capacity, age, or physical disability. The person under the conservatorship is referred to as “conservatee.”
A contutor is a court appointed (i.e. by court order) or testamentary joint guardian of a ward. A ward is a person who cannot properly take care of themselves because of their age or legal incompetence.
A correctional program is typically a rehabilitation program for incarcerated criminal offenders. Correctional programs may include employment training and education services to assist offenders in overcoming their past, and to aid in their reintegration into society. Specific modalities include: high school equivalency training, mental health diversion, substance abuse treatment, and seminars.
A curator is a conservator; a guardian; one appointed as an agent or manager of a minor or a person who is mentally incompetent.
A curator ad litem is a guardian ad litem.
The person in charge of a museum, art gallery, or library is also a curator.
Custodial interference refers to a parent breaking court determined custodial instructions. This can be as major as taking a child from the sole custodian or as minimal as calling a child more than directed.
