上述三单词均有助（唆）讼的含义。差别在于maintenance 是过去普通法上的一种犯罪行为，指与案件无利害关系者怂恿他人诉讼之行为，其范畴广泛，可指任何目的的“助讼”或“唆讼”行为，包括给予钱财支援等[1]。barratry (也称为common barratry)指无端挑起或鼓动诉讼事端，为普通法上一犯罪，现在在有些州的制定法上仍为罪名存在。主要为美语，英国少用[2]。 而champerty则指局外人与诉讼当事人达成协议以帮助诉讼当事人进行诉讼，目的是为得到一定的利益，如得到一定报偿或分得部分损害赔偿金等，因此champerty实际为一种“以获利为目的的 助讼行为”,也有法律词典将它归类为一种maintenance [3]。

[1] “The common law crime of giving financial or other support to assist a litgant in

pursuing a case in which one has no legal, family, or other legitimate interest. " Cf. James E. Clapp, Random House Webster's Dictionary of the Law, at p. 278，Random House (2000).

[2]“US offense of starting lawsuit with no grounds for doing so. ” Cf, P. H. Collin, Dictionary of Law, 2nd edition, at p. 48, Peter Collin Publishing Ltd. (1993).

[3]“An agreement under which a third party is to share in the proceeds of a litigated claim；a form of maintenance.”Cf. Daphne Dukelow, The Dictionary of Canadian Law, at p. 149, Thomson professional Publishing Canada (1991).