Glossary of Legal Terms & Definitions
- Reasonable Doubt In a criminal case, a prosecutor must prove the defendant is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If they cannot prove a case beyond a reasonable doubt, then the defendant is entitled to an acquittal. This is the highest burden of proof in the legal system.
- Record A written recording of all proceedings and actions in a lawsuit.
- Remand When a case is appealed to an appellate court, it is reviewed for any procedural errors. If errors are found, the court will send, or remand, the case back to the lower court for further proceedings, which may or may not change the final decision. A remand in the context of Grand Jury(...)
- Reporter A person who makes a written record of all court proceedings, prepares transcripts, and publishes opinions/decisions.
- Respondent The term used for the person against whom an appeal of a court decision is brought or a term for the person answering a complaint in a civil case.
- Retainer An amount of money paid to an attorney to reserve them for when a client needs their services at a later date.
- Reverse When an appellate court finds an error with a lower court’s decision, the appellate court will set aside or reverse the decision and remand the case back to the lower court to issue a new decision.
- Rules of Evidence The standards governing the form and admissibility of evidence in a civil or criminal case.
- RURESA The Revised Uniform Reciprocal Enforcement of Support Act: a statute that assists in establishing and enforcing support obligations when parents reside in different states. This act has been adopted by most states.
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What People Say
Client Testimonials

“David was relentless in his pursuit of my son’s innocence”
We retained David Maletta to represent our son after being cited for what can only be described as a momentary lapse of reason. David was extremely knowledgeable, was able to clearly communicate very complicated concepts, and was relentless in his pursuit of my son’s innocence. He had strong relationships with the prosecuting attorney and respect of the judge, which ultimately resulted in my son learning a really hard lesson with limited consequences (traffic school and writing an essay to the judge on the physics of driving 130MPH and what happens if that goes badly). I have already sent all of my friends with teenage and 20 year old kids his contact information for when they inevitably get that call. David completely exceeded all of our expectations and we could not recommend him any stronger. Thank you for everything.
Shawn H. - Google Review

“I’m very happy, he truly cares about the outcome and works very hard to get you a favorable result”
Darin handled my divorce case which was a bit complicated, he truly cares about the outcome and works very hard to get you a favorable result. He did lots of research into my specific issues and I am very happy with the result. The cost for services was very reasonable and he was upfront about future costs. I highly recommend Darin Colburn and I am very thankful for all he was able to do for me.
Mario Galasso - Avvo Review

“He was excellent, Worth Hiring for “
David was excellent at keeping me informed along the route, responding to all of my inquiries and questions, reassuring me that everything was proceeding as planned, and he established reasonable expectations. The conclusion pleased me.
Martin - Avvo Review

“Exceptional customer service”
Thank you Juanita for your professionalism, knowledge & exceptional customer service. I highly recommend and greatly appreciate it.
LeVonn Vonni Salas - Google Review

“She exhibited remarkable attention to detail”
I recently engaged the legal services of Attorney Lauren Bostick to finalize my divorce, and I am compelled to share my experience as it was truly exceptional. Going through a divorce is undoubtedly a challenging and emotionally taxing process, but Lauren navigated me through it with professionalism, compassion, and unwavering dedication. From our initial consultation, it was evident that Lauren possessed a deep understanding of family law and a genuine commitment to helping clients through difficult transitions. Lauren exhibited remarkable attention to detail, ensuring that every aspect of my case was thoroughly examined and addressed. She took the time to listen attentively to my concerns, patiently answering my questions and providing clear explanations of the legal processes involved. Lauren has the ability to balance assertiveness in negotiations with a sincere desire to achieve a fair and amicable resolution. Furthermore, Lauren demonstrated exceptional professionalism and reliability throughout the entire duration of my case. She was consistently responsive to emails and calls, promptly addressing any new developments or inquiries that arose. This level of accessibility and responsiveness greatly alleviated much of the stress associated with a divorce. In conclusion, I wholeheartedly recommend Lauren Bostick to anyone in need of legal representation for divorce proceedings. Her combination of legal expertise, compassion, and dedication truly sets her apart as an outstanding advocate for her clients.
Cathy Miller - Google Review

“So knowledgeable and professional”
Mr. Dave Maletta Is so knowledgeable, professional, and all-around the person you want to go to. I left the office feeling secured and more enlightened on what was going on. They handled my case with such delicacy and I would recommend this office If you want people who will take on your case with a strategic and professional approach.
Miranda Flores- Google Review
“Excellent Service”
I had a really good experience with this law firm. Very polite and educated me when I needed. Very friendly service as well.
Stacey Yarberry - Google Review
“They were very professional”
I had a great experience with this law firm, they were very professional from the first touch to the resolution of my case, and fully recommended.
Eduardo Domínguez - Google Review

“He is truly the best”
I was new to AZ, and Scottsdale, when I was driving to the airport to pick up a friend coming to visit for the weekend. I was pulled over for a very minor traffic violation, which turned into a very surprising DUI arrest. I have only had one speeding ticket ever in my life, and I’ve never driven drunk before. I was confused how any of this had happened. Of course, as someone who doesn’t have any law issues, I wanted to have the best in my case. Luckily, I found Tim who truly is the best. I asked him many questions throughout our time working together and was very uneasy about the entire situation. He answered my questions and remained calm throughout the months it took to go to court. I was found not guilty of the DUI charges, and it was all thanks to Tim. I couldn’t recommend him high enough, he handled everything perfectly.
Megan - Avvo Review

“We cannot say thank you enough for all of your help and expertise”
We hired David Maletta because of a felony DUI offense that had a mandatory minimum sentence of four months in prison. David Maletta did an amazing job and got the charge reduced to a misdemeanor DUI. The sentence for the misdemeanor DUI was only one day in jail with time served. David Maletta really cared about the outcome of the case and he went above and beyond to make a horrible situation much better. We cannot say thank you enough for all of your help and expertise. If we ever need legal representation again or if I know anyone else who requires legal representation, my first call will be to David Maletta.
Patricia - Avvo Review
“Their professionalism and dedication were evident in every interaction”
I had an outstanding experience with Colburn Hintze Maletta PLLC. Their team provided expert legal guidance and support throughout my case. They were responsive, thorough, and always kept me informed. Their professionalism and dedication were evident in every interaction, and they navigated the complexities of my situation with skill and efficiency. I am grateful for their expertise and highly recommend Colburn Hintze Maletta PLLC to anyone in need of reliable and effective legal representation.
Devin Farias - Google Review

“The entire process was very efficient”
I worked with CHM to prepare a will and other legal documents for me. The entire process was very efficient, and they were very helpful in answering all of the questions I had. I highly recommend Juanita for your legal needs.
Nykelia Massingale - Google Review
“I can’t thank their team enough for making this process smooth”
Just want to share my experience with CHM, it’s been really amazing despite my situation, they have answered all my questions thoroughly and made this process very easy for me, I definitely recommend it to anyone and I can’t thank their team enough for making this process smooth. They are very thorough when speaking and they are reassuring as well, it makes it easy to work with them.
Eduardo Hernandez - 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

“Let me just say she was an amazing attorney”
I had gone in to see a lawyer for my DUI. My attorney was Jessica. Let me just say she was an amazing attorney I could’ve asked for, I really thought I was going to do 3 years in prison & thanks to her I only did 1 day in jail. That’s just wow a big WOW !! I truly can’t thank her enough for what she did. She’s amazing if you ever get a DUI ask for Jessica. Can’t go wrong with her, she is outstanding! One more thing, Kiara is an amazing helper. She and Jessica are both great. Kiara answered all the questions I had. You can just say I’m so thankful I had them helping me out with my case.
Luz Jimenez - 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

“He treated us as individuals with unique circumstances and emotions”
I had an incredibly positive experience with Colburn Hintze Maletta’s firm, especially thanks to attorney Henry Álzate. He played a crucial role in guiding my mother’s case, especially regarding financial support after her unexpected divorce. Henry demonstrated a profound commitment, ensuring to pursue of the best possible outcome with dedication and empathy. One of Henry’s standout qualities is his genuine care for individuals. Despite my mother’s language barrier, Henry facilitated communication, ensuring she comprehended every step of the legal process. This made a significant difference in our comfort and understanding throughout the case. His ability to convey complex legal matters in a clear and compassionate manner is truly admirable. Throughout our interactions, Henry’s charisma and warmth made us feel valued beyond just being clients; he treated us as individuals with unique circumstances and emotions. His support and determination to achieve favorable results for my mother were evident from start to finish. I highly recommend Henry Álzate and the Colburn Hintze Maletta firm for anyone seeking legal assistance, especially in family law matters. Henry’s professionalism, empathy, and dedication are exemplary, ensuring that clients receive not only exceptional legal representation but also genuine support during challenging times.
Yajaira Magana - 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

“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 cannot speak highly enough of her exceptional legal representation”
I recently had the privilege of working with Attorney Lauren Bostick, and I cannot speak highly enough of her exceptional legal representation. From the outset, Lauren demonstrated a remarkable balance of empathy and assertiveness, which truly set her apart. One of the most impressive aspects of Lauren’s approach was her unwavering empathy. She took the time to truly understand my situation and concerns, ensuring that I felt heard and supported throughout the legal process. Her compassionate demeanor provided much-needed reassurance during what was undoubtedly a challenging time. Moreover, Lauren’s assertiveness and tenacity were instrumental in securing a favorable outcome for my case. She navigated the complexities of the legal system with confidence and determination, advocating fiercely on my behalf. Thanks to her diligent efforts, I was able to achieve the custody arrangement I deserved and negotiate a fair settlement. In summary, Attorney Lauren Bostick is a consummate professional who goes above and beyond for her clients. Her combination of empathy and aggressiveness makes her a force to be reckoned with in the legal field. I am immensely grateful for her expertise and support, and I would highly recommend her services to anyone in need of legal representation.
