NC Paralegal Certification Final
Review Exam Questions And 100%
Correct Answers (2025-2026) Updated.
acceptance - Answer in contract law, the offeree's indication to the offeror that the offeree
agrees to be bound by the terms of the offeror's offer or proposal for a contract
acquittal - Answer a certification of declaration following a trial that the individual accused of
a crime is innocent, or free from guilt, in the eyes of the law and is thus absolved of the charges.
actionable - Answer capable of serving as the basis of a lawsuit. an actionable claim can be
pursued in a lawsuit or other court action
active listening - Answer The act of listening attentively to the speaker's message and
responding by giving appropriate feedback to show that you understand what the speaker is
saying, restating the speaker's message in your own words to confirm that you accurately
interpreted what was said.
actual malice - Answer Real and demonstrable evil intent. In a defamation suit, a statement
made about a public figure normally must be made with actual malice (with either knowledge
of falsity or a reckless disregard for the truth) for liability to be incurred.
actus reus - Answer A guilty (prohibited) act. The commission of a prohibited act is one of the
two essential elements required for criminal liability. The other element is the intent to commit
a crime.
ad valorem - Answer Derived from the Latin ad valentiam, meaning "to the value", It is
commonly applied to a tax imposed on the value of property.
address block - Answer That part of a letter that indicates to whom the letter is addressed. The
address block is placed in the upper left-hand portion of the letter, above the salutation (or
reference line, if one is included).
ademption clause - Answer The revocation, recalling, or cancellation of a legacy, according to
the apparent intention of the testator, implied by the law from acts done by the testator during
the testator's life.
,administrative agency - Answer A federal or state government agency established to perform a
specific function. Administrative agencies are authorized by legislative acts to make and enforce
rules relating to the purpose for which they were established.
administrative process - Answer The procedure used by administrative agencies in the
administration of law.
administrative law - Answer A body of law created by administrative agencies in the form of
rules, regulations, orders, and decisions in order to carry out their duties and responsibilities.
administrative law judge (ALJ) - Answer One who presides over an administrative agency
hearing and who has the power to administer oaths, take testimony, rule on questions of
evidence, and make determinations otherwise authorized by law.
administrator - Answer A person appointed by a court to serve as a personal representative for
a person who died intestate (without a valid will) or if the executor named in the will cannot
serve.
adoption - Answer A procedure in which persons become the legal parents of a child who is
not their biological child.
adversarial system of justice - Answer A legal system in which the parties in a lawsuit are
opponents, or adversaries, and present their cases in the light most favorable to themselves.
The impartial decision maker (the judge or jury) determines who wins and who loses based on
the evidence presented.
adverse possession - Answer A process by which premises can change ownership. It is a
common law concept concerning the title to real property.
affidavit - Answer A written statement of facts confirmed by the oath or affirmation of the
party making it and made before a person having the authority to administer the oath or
affirmation.
affirm - Answer To uphold the judgment of a lower court.
affirmative defense - Answer A response to the plaintiff's claim that does not deny the
,agreement - Answer A meeting of the minds and a requirement for a valid contract.
Agreement involves two distinct events: an offer to form a contract and the acceptance of that
offer by the offeree.
alimony - Answer Money paid to support a former spouse after a marriage has been
terminated. The alimony may be permanent or temporary (rehabilitative).
allegation - Answer A party's statement, claim, or assertion made in a pleading to the court.
The allegation sets forth the issue that the party expects to prove.
ALTA (American Land Title Association) - Answer A national trade association representing the
interests of the abstract of title and title insurance industries.
alternative dispute resolution (ADR) - Answer The resolution of disputes in ways other than
those involved in the traditional judicial process. Negotiation, mediation, and arbitration are
forms of ADR. Some courts require them before a case can go to trial.
American Bar Association (ABA) - Answer A voluntary national association of attorneys, the
ABA plays an active role in developing educational and ethical standards for attorneys and in
pursuing improvements in the administration of justice.
American Digest System - Answer A system of identifying points of law from reported cases
and organizing them by topic and key number. The system was developed by West Publishing
Company to organize the entire body of American Law.
American Jurisprudence - Answer An encyclopedia of United States law published by West.
American Law Reports - Answer A resource used by American lawyers to find a variety of
sources relating to specific legal rules, doctrines, or principles.
amicus curiae brief - Answer A brief filed with the court by a third party (i.e. one not directly
involved in the lawsuit) who is concerned about the outcome of the litigation. The purpose of
the brief is to convince the court to rule in favor of one of the parties because not to do so
would affect a broad interest of society. (Friend of the court)
, annulment - Answer A court decree that invalidates (nullifies) a marriage. Although the
marriage itself is deemed nonexistent, children of a marriage that is annulled are legitimate.
answer - Answer A defendant's response to a plaintiff's complaint.
antenuptial agreement - Answer A written contract created by two people planning to be
married. The agreement typically lists all of the property each person owns, as well as their
debts, and it specifies what each person's property rights will be after they tie the knot.
Antenuptial agreements often specify how property will be divided - and whether spousal
support (alimony and post-separation support) will be paid - in the event of a divorce.
appeal - Answer The process of seeking a higher court's review of the lower court's decision
for the purpose of correcting or changing the lower court's judgment or decision.
appellant - Answer The party who takes an appeal from one court to another; sometimes
referred to as the petitioner.
appellant's brief - Answer An appellate brief that argues in favor of the appellant's position.
This brief will try to convince the court that the lower court's decision was erroneous on a point
of LAW. (The facts aren't at issue anymore.)
appellate court - Answer A court that reviews decisions made by lower courts, such as trial
courts; a court of appeals.
appellate jurisdiction - Answer The power of the court to hear and decide an appeal; i.e. the
power and authority of a court to review cases that have already been tried in a lower court and
the power to make decisions about them without holding a trial. This process is called appellate
review.
appellee - Answer The party against whom an appeal is taken; i.e. the party who opposes
setting aside or reversing the judgment; the respondent.
appellee's brief - Answer An appellate brief that argues in favor of the appellee's position. This
brief will try to rebut (counter) any arguments in the appellant's brief and will emphasize the
accuracy of the earlier judgment rendered in its favor.
Review Exam Questions And 100%
Correct Answers (2025-2026) Updated.
acceptance - Answer in contract law, the offeree's indication to the offeror that the offeree
agrees to be bound by the terms of the offeror's offer or proposal for a contract
acquittal - Answer a certification of declaration following a trial that the individual accused of
a crime is innocent, or free from guilt, in the eyes of the law and is thus absolved of the charges.
actionable - Answer capable of serving as the basis of a lawsuit. an actionable claim can be
pursued in a lawsuit or other court action
active listening - Answer The act of listening attentively to the speaker's message and
responding by giving appropriate feedback to show that you understand what the speaker is
saying, restating the speaker's message in your own words to confirm that you accurately
interpreted what was said.
actual malice - Answer Real and demonstrable evil intent. In a defamation suit, a statement
made about a public figure normally must be made with actual malice (with either knowledge
of falsity or a reckless disregard for the truth) for liability to be incurred.
actus reus - Answer A guilty (prohibited) act. The commission of a prohibited act is one of the
two essential elements required for criminal liability. The other element is the intent to commit
a crime.
ad valorem - Answer Derived from the Latin ad valentiam, meaning "to the value", It is
commonly applied to a tax imposed on the value of property.
address block - Answer That part of a letter that indicates to whom the letter is addressed. The
address block is placed in the upper left-hand portion of the letter, above the salutation (or
reference line, if one is included).
ademption clause - Answer The revocation, recalling, or cancellation of a legacy, according to
the apparent intention of the testator, implied by the law from acts done by the testator during
the testator's life.
,administrative agency - Answer A federal or state government agency established to perform a
specific function. Administrative agencies are authorized by legislative acts to make and enforce
rules relating to the purpose for which they were established.
administrative process - Answer The procedure used by administrative agencies in the
administration of law.
administrative law - Answer A body of law created by administrative agencies in the form of
rules, regulations, orders, and decisions in order to carry out their duties and responsibilities.
administrative law judge (ALJ) - Answer One who presides over an administrative agency
hearing and who has the power to administer oaths, take testimony, rule on questions of
evidence, and make determinations otherwise authorized by law.
administrator - Answer A person appointed by a court to serve as a personal representative for
a person who died intestate (without a valid will) or if the executor named in the will cannot
serve.
adoption - Answer A procedure in which persons become the legal parents of a child who is
not their biological child.
adversarial system of justice - Answer A legal system in which the parties in a lawsuit are
opponents, or adversaries, and present their cases in the light most favorable to themselves.
The impartial decision maker (the judge or jury) determines who wins and who loses based on
the evidence presented.
adverse possession - Answer A process by which premises can change ownership. It is a
common law concept concerning the title to real property.
affidavit - Answer A written statement of facts confirmed by the oath or affirmation of the
party making it and made before a person having the authority to administer the oath or
affirmation.
affirm - Answer To uphold the judgment of a lower court.
affirmative defense - Answer A response to the plaintiff's claim that does not deny the
,agreement - Answer A meeting of the minds and a requirement for a valid contract.
Agreement involves two distinct events: an offer to form a contract and the acceptance of that
offer by the offeree.
alimony - Answer Money paid to support a former spouse after a marriage has been
terminated. The alimony may be permanent or temporary (rehabilitative).
allegation - Answer A party's statement, claim, or assertion made in a pleading to the court.
The allegation sets forth the issue that the party expects to prove.
ALTA (American Land Title Association) - Answer A national trade association representing the
interests of the abstract of title and title insurance industries.
alternative dispute resolution (ADR) - Answer The resolution of disputes in ways other than
those involved in the traditional judicial process. Negotiation, mediation, and arbitration are
forms of ADR. Some courts require them before a case can go to trial.
American Bar Association (ABA) - Answer A voluntary national association of attorneys, the
ABA plays an active role in developing educational and ethical standards for attorneys and in
pursuing improvements in the administration of justice.
American Digest System - Answer A system of identifying points of law from reported cases
and organizing them by topic and key number. The system was developed by West Publishing
Company to organize the entire body of American Law.
American Jurisprudence - Answer An encyclopedia of United States law published by West.
American Law Reports - Answer A resource used by American lawyers to find a variety of
sources relating to specific legal rules, doctrines, or principles.
amicus curiae brief - Answer A brief filed with the court by a third party (i.e. one not directly
involved in the lawsuit) who is concerned about the outcome of the litigation. The purpose of
the brief is to convince the court to rule in favor of one of the parties because not to do so
would affect a broad interest of society. (Friend of the court)
, annulment - Answer A court decree that invalidates (nullifies) a marriage. Although the
marriage itself is deemed nonexistent, children of a marriage that is annulled are legitimate.
answer - Answer A defendant's response to a plaintiff's complaint.
antenuptial agreement - Answer A written contract created by two people planning to be
married. The agreement typically lists all of the property each person owns, as well as their
debts, and it specifies what each person's property rights will be after they tie the knot.
Antenuptial agreements often specify how property will be divided - and whether spousal
support (alimony and post-separation support) will be paid - in the event of a divorce.
appeal - Answer The process of seeking a higher court's review of the lower court's decision
for the purpose of correcting or changing the lower court's judgment or decision.
appellant - Answer The party who takes an appeal from one court to another; sometimes
referred to as the petitioner.
appellant's brief - Answer An appellate brief that argues in favor of the appellant's position.
This brief will try to convince the court that the lower court's decision was erroneous on a point
of LAW. (The facts aren't at issue anymore.)
appellate court - Answer A court that reviews decisions made by lower courts, such as trial
courts; a court of appeals.
appellate jurisdiction - Answer The power of the court to hear and decide an appeal; i.e. the
power and authority of a court to review cases that have already been tried in a lower court and
the power to make decisions about them without holding a trial. This process is called appellate
review.
appellee - Answer The party against whom an appeal is taken; i.e. the party who opposes
setting aside or reversing the judgment; the respondent.
appellee's brief - Answer An appellate brief that argues in favor of the appellee's position. This
brief will try to rebut (counter) any arguments in the appellant's brief and will emphasize the
accuracy of the earlier judgment rendered in its favor.
