Glossary of Legal Terms & Definitions
- In Loco Parentis A Latin phrase referring to a person treated as a parent by a child, and that has established a meaningful parental relationship with them over a period but are not legally or biologically their parent.
- Indictment A written accusation submitted to the court by a grand jury, after hearing the prosecution’s evidence, charging a person with committing a crime.
- Indigent a person who cannot financially afford their own legal representation, so the court will have to appoint an attorney to represent them.
- Initial appearance In a criminal case, it is when a defendant first comes in front of a judge to determine if there is probable cause for their arrest and to establish release conditions.
- Initial hearing In a criminal case, it is when the judge informs the defendant of the charges against them, their rights moving forward, and decides what bail will be.
- Injunction An order from the court stopping another party from performing a specific act to prevent or mitigate damage or injury.
- Interrogatories A set of questions included in a party’s discovery request to the opposing party that is required to be answered in writing under oath.
- Interview A meeting between parties to ask questions and gather information.
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What People Say
Client Testimonials
“They had very clear understanding with great patience”
I love the customer service. They really take their time to provide knowledge and a very clear understanding with great patience.
Monica Scott - Google Review

“Not all heroes wear capes!”
Going through a divorce was one of the most stressful times in my life. I was scared, feeling cornered, and in a financial pickle. Darin and his team made everything super easy and manageable. He listened, validated, and gave valuable feedback on each line item. I was very thorough in my search for an attorney since my case involved some complications. My divorce ended up being contested and then appealed. We went to court several times and Darin shined every time! For the amount of work he put in he was very reasonably priced! I spoke to many attorneys, have friends who are attorneys, and even worked with one prior to finding him, that’s how I know Darin is a gem! Hire him! Not all heroes wear capes!
Karen - Avvo Review

“Throughout the whole process and he did a wonderful job”
Darin Colburn was my lawyer throughout the whole process and he did a wonderful job. He was always there when I needed him, explained things thoroughly, and wanted what was best for everyone. I’m very glad I chose him and in the end, we won the case. Thank you again!
Rita Canales- Google Review

” I’m really happy with the customer service”
I am a family therapist and I like to use CHM to help my clients who are going through legal issues in family court. I am impressed by the staff’s knowledge and their willingness to help every client. Thanks to CHM!! I’m really happy with the customer service I received from Juanita Pena when I called for some assistance in referring clients to your agency. With the help of Juanita and the CHM team, we were able to get our family law questions answered to help our clients with their custody and immigration needs.
Aracelia Sanchez - Google Review

“Hands down the best attorney for family law!”
Darin is hands down the best attorney for family law! He made me feel heard and validated in my concerns for my daughter during this custody battle and was very up-front about what to expect and what was a likely outcome right off the bat. Communication was constant and timely, even when he couldn’t handle a concern or something going on with the case due to scheduling he pulled the entire firm in to help and get everything done! I’ve never experienced such a friendly, understanding, and caring manner from an attorney before so I will ALWAYS recommend this amazing law firm to anyone who needs it.
Kyla Dawnne- Google Review

“She is the best and I could not have gotten through without her”
I cannot recommend Lauren Bostick and her team enough!!! She is a consummate professional and will work harder than anyone to ensure you achieve your goals through the process. It is truly rare to find a lawyer who is not only highly skilled in the field of law in every sense of the word, but also one who cares about the whole person. She is the best and I could not have gotten through without her.
Anna Mudroch- Google Review

“He answered our questions as they came up and helped ease our minds”
David Maletta was very persistent and responsive in representing my 19 yo son in his case. He answered our questions as they came up and helped ease our minds. He never made it feel like we were bothering him. Best of all he was able to get an incredible outcome in his case, much better than I had even hoped. I could not be happier and my son is so relieved and can move on with life. I would recommend David Maletta to anyone needing representation.
Jennifer Ivers - Google Review

“He is awesome and I do not regret choosing him”
I was very worried after I got pulled over and charged with DUI for impairment by drugs, but, David Maletta had my case completely dismissed. Tempe (and AZ) in general are very harsh with DUI cases but I sat back while Mr. Maletta reviewed the case. I did not think it was winnable due to the circumstances but I got a phone call that the case was thrown out. I would highly recommend David Maletta to anyone seeking a DUI lawyer, he carefully examined all evidence including bodycams and interviewing the arresting officer. Needless to say, he is awesome and I do not regret choosing him.
Brandon - Avvo Review

“A lawyer you could have who is the gold standard professional”
Judie Rettelle is a life saver! She’s helped me through navigating family law from court procedures, communication and how to handle difficult situations throughout. She is the most shooting, bulldog of a lawyer you could have who is the gold standard professional, the most knowledgeable and well-rounded lawyer you could have and the best! CHM law as a whole are worth every penny you spend from the paralegals(Whittney you’re amazing) to the courtesy calls and how they manage an already nerve wracking and stressful need to helping you through it all. Truly a law firm worth going back to time and time again!
Brad Bryson - Google Review

“Their communication and accessibility was outstanding”
I went through a divorce years ago and never felt confident enough to spend the money and energy in getting custody of my son, nor believe it was possible until I met with Alysa and Whittney at CHM. From beginning to end it was about an 18-month-long process, but it was well worth it and I would recommend them to anyone. I can’t thank them enough. Their communication and accessibility was outstanding. Not only did they give me my son back, but they gave him the best possible chance at life! Aly and Whittney, thank you!!!
Charlie Mic - Google Review

“She has the ability to make everything understandable with all the knowledge she has”
Juanita is Outstanding! She has the ability to make everything understandable with all the knowledge she has. She is professional and helps make what could be a difficult and draining process much easier to navigate.
Breanna M - Google Review

“Thankful for the excellent service he provide”
Dave stayed with me while he pushed back and forth with Covid-19 and the delays with the court. Once cited, the state basically decides that your guilty through the automatic suspension of your drivers license. Dave immediately took care of that problem and I never lost the privilege of driving. Dave took notes like crazy and was upfront about our uphill battle. I was also well aware that the plea deal that was given to us, was unacceptable and through Dave’s knowledge and experience I had put my trust in him to guide me to make the right decision on how to proceed. With Daves guidance I had decided that we needed to fight for something better than what the prosecutor was offering and Dave was 100 percent behind me on that decision. We knew the risks, be we also knew we had very little to lose based on the prosecutions stance. We decided to go to trial. I knew and felt that it was a long shot based on some of the information in the police report, but I also knew that it was not true. We met previous to the trial so I could better understand what the process is once we get into the court room. Dave answered may questions and spent a lot of time with me trying to be sure I understood things and what time I needed to be there and what would happen once we got there. We worked together on jury selection on the day of trial and we began the case. Watching the prosecution and then watching Dave was night and day!! Dave brought the case to life, Dave grabbed the attention of the jury, Dave had me staring, listening, watching and not missing a beat when he went to fight for me, his client. He went through his notes through the 2 days of trial and his big book. It was clear that he was completely familiar with the facts of the case, the facts on the incident and the responsibility of the prosecution in areas that they weren’t competent. Dave took steps throughout the 2 days that sometimes had me concerned, but his experience calmed me down, once he educated me on this. It was clear to the jury that we working as team. It was clear to the jury that the prosecution didn’t have their facts straight and were not addressing the facts that they could not address. I was nervous to say the least. There was a lot at stake for my personal life and my work life. I was found NOT GUILTY. Dave won the trial for me. I was not only found not guilty, I was found not guilty on 2 counts. I owe this to Dave to truly bring the facts forward, make the arguments, show his passion and his knowledge of the facts and convince the jury that they had reasonable doubt and could not find me guilty. Dave has some fire in him that will come out in trial and it’s rare to have someone with enough personality to relate to the jury and to his client. I am so thankful that I had Dave Maletta as my attorney. It has taken me over a week to finally let it all soak in after 2 1/2 years of stress.
Gregory - Avvo Review
“I always felt heard and valued”
One of the standout features of CHM Law is its client-focused approach. I always felt heard and valued, and their communication was prompt and transparent. They kept me informed every step of the way, which significantly eased my anxiety throughout the legal process.
Terence Carroll - Google Review
” I’m really happy with the customer service”
Not only was this experience the best experience I could have asked for while going through one of the toughest times of my life, but the peace and ease that was reassured me throughout the challenging time of my divorce. I can reassure you this is by far the best option not the only option if you want a hard-fighting, honest, dependable, and welcoming firm to represent you!!
Demetrius Ellis - Google Review

“He exceeded all of my expectations”
I cannot recommend Mr.Castillo enough. As a survivor of domestic violence, I needed an attorney who was not only knowledgeable and experienced but also compassionate and understanding. Mr. Castillo exceeded all of my expectations. He listened to my story with empathy and kindness and guided me through the legal process with clarity and expertise. He was always available to answer my questions, address my concerns, and offer support when I needed it most.Thanks to Mr.Castillo, I received the justice and protection I deserved. If you’re going through a similar situation, please don’t hesitate to reach out to them.
Danna Mendoza - Google Review

“She is a fantastic attorney”
Lauren, is a fantastic attorney and understands the judges quirks and perspectives very well. She is great at communicating with you the expectations and ground work that you will need prior to going to court in order to assist in helping you win your case. The tips and advice she gave me proved to be paramount in setting up my custody battle case to show trends and disprove the oppositions arguments prior to going in front of a judge. Lauren has an excellent team of paralegal that understand her expectations for preparing for court and they work around the clock to ensure that you feel comfortable with the materials and game plan strategy. During some financial hardships that I experienced last year due to a layoff, not only did Lauren and CHM allow me to go on a payment plan but Lauren personally reached out to her personal network to help me find employment. That was a WOW factor, because it showed me that I am valued as a client but more importantly she believed in my cause and valued me as a person. I have kept Lauren services since 2022 following her as she switched law firms and will continue to use her and her team as needed for any other family law issues. She is deeply valued and appreciated in my family making the family Christmas card mailing list.
Anthony Gregory- Google Review

“I felt comfortable working with him”
Tim was fantastic! He answered all of my questions and provided a thorough outline for the next step. I felt comfortable working with him. Highly recommend contacting Tim for anyone looking to adopt!
Jasmine Shambo - Google Review
“They were exceptional from start to finish”
My experience with Colburn Hintze Maletta was exceptional from start to finish. They were very attentive to my concerns and questions. They took the time to explain the legal process clearly and kept me informed at every step. Their professionalism and commitment to achieving the best outcome for me was evident throughout the entire process. I highly recommend this firm to anyone seeking reliable and effective legal representation.
Chimal Lopez - Google Review

“He has my respect as an attorney and being a well rounded representer”
I honestly just want to let it be known to any and everyone looking for an attorney on a case. Whether it be Dui, possession, or your every day to day traffic violations where you need representation Tim Hintze is your man. You have to respect a man that listens to every per request that you make on a case and he gets in there and get it done. Tim has my respect as an attorney and being a well rounded representer. From him being honest on the possibility and options for your case to him being easy to work and communicate with via over the phone or face to face Mr. Hintze is working it out.
Ben - Avvo Review

“Their attention to detail and dedication to their clients is next to none”
Tim and Dave are two of the best attorneys I have ever known. Their attention to detail and dedication to their clients is next to none. It is an honor to highly recommend this firm for representation.
