New York State Court Assistant Legal Terminology Practice Test 2026 - Free Legal Terminology Practice Questions and Study Guide

Infant's compromise is the civil process by which a proposed settlement involving a minor is presented to the court for approval to ensure it is fair and in the child's best interests. In New York civil cases, when a claim belongs to an infant, the parties cannot finalize a settlement without the court's blessing. The court's role is to protect the infant, often by appointing a guardian to manage the funds and directing how the money is to be held or spent for the child’s future needs. This differs from a simple trial with one party appearing, a generic pending lawsuit, or a criminal charge by grand jury; those are unrelated contexts. The key point is that the compromise of a minor's claim requires judicial approval to become effective.