Glossary, resource map & sources

What these words and organizations mean.

Last reviewed for legal/resource accuracy: October 7, 2026

A student should not need to know the bureaucracy before asking for help. This page translates the legal and institutional vocabulary used throughout the project.

Resource map

Benefits HubA campus-based resource model associated with United Way of King County that helps students navigate food, housing, public benefits, financial support, and other barriers to staying enrolled.

Basic Needs NavigatorA campus point person/resource function intended to connect students with basic-needs supports and community resources.

Student Legal ServicesCampus legal services available at some institutions. UW Student Legal Services serves eligible students at Seattle, Tacoma, and Bothell.

Washington 211A statewide referral system connecting people to legal, financial, housing, food, and other community resources.

Washington LawHelpA public legal-information website maintained for Washington residents, with self-help materials and forms.

Northwest Justice ProjectWashington’s statewide civil legal-aid program for eligible low-income people.

WSACWashington Student Achievement Council, the state agency working on higher-education access, affordability, student supports, and financial aid.

DFIWashington Department of Financial Institutions, which regulates certain state-chartered financial institutions and provides consumer education and complaint channels.

CFPBConsumer Financial Protection Bureau, the federal agency responsible for consumer-finance rules, supervision, data, education, and enforcement.

FAFSA dependency statusThe federal student-aid classification that determines whether a student must provide parent information on the FAFSA. Students generally become independent automatically at age 24 or by meeting another statutory criterion. Source S25

Unusual circumstances / dependency overrideA case-by-case financial-aid process that can allow a dependent student to be treated as independent when circumstances such as parental abandonment or estrangement make parent contact impossible or unsafe. Source S24

Provisionally independentA current FAFSA status for a student who indicates unusual circumstances and submits without parent information while the school reviews whether the student qualifies for an override or another independent-status pathway. Source S24

Legal vocabulary

SummonsA court document notifying a defendant that a lawsuit has been filed and requiring a response within the applicable timeframe.

ComplaintThe pleading in which the plaintiff states the claims and relief sought.

Charge-offAn accounting action by a creditor. It does not erase the debt or necessarily end collection.

Default judgmentA judgment that may be entered when a defendant does not respond or otherwise defend as required.

JudgmentA court’s enforceable decision establishing an obligation, which may accrue interest and support later collection.

Writ of garnishmentA court-issued process used to reach wages, bank funds, or other property held by a third party for a judgment debtor.

GarnisheeThe third party served with the writ, such as an employer or financial institution.

ExemptionA legal protection for specified money or property from collection.

Claim of exemptionThe procedure a debtor uses to identify and assert an exemption in a garnishment.

Disposable earningsEarnings remaining after deductions required by law; Washington’s wage-garnishment limits use this amount.

Consumer debtUnder Washington law, an obligation arising primarily from personal, family, or household purposes; the definition includes medical debt.

Private student loanA non-government-guaranteed loan used solely to finance postsecondary education and attendance costs; Washington’s definition excludes ordinary open-end credit such as credit cards.

Methodology

Sam, Maya, and Priya are hypothetical. No confidential student story is used. Jesse’s personal case chronology is drawn from his case records and the text of the court order he reviewed. External legal, institutional, and statistical claims are tied to the public sources below. The site distinguishes personal account, court-record fact, legal source, and illustrative scenario.

AI transparency: AI tools assisted with research organization, drafting, editing, code, and some illustrations. AI output is not treated as a factual source. Final publication decisions are made by the human author, and external claims are checked against cited sources.