Bond

What bond means

In short, bond is a term you will meet in court papers, rules and legal research. The definition above gives its usual meaning in American civil practice. However, the exact meaning can depend on the rule, statute or court decision that uses it. So it helps to read the term in context.

Where bond comes up

For example, the term appears in these procedures:

• Stay of Proceedings to Enforce a Judgment (Fed. R. Civ. P. 62): pausing enforcement of a judgment, automatically for a short time or by court order with security.
• Motion for a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) (Fed. R. Civ. P. 65(b)): an emergency request for a short-term order, sometimes without notice to the other side, to prevent immediate and irreparable harm.

How to research the term

First, read the term where it actually appears. A rule, statute or court decision may define it for its own purposes. Next, check whether your court has a local rule that uses bond in a special way. Then look at recent decisions from courts in your jurisdiction. They show how judges apply the term today. Also, remember that state law can differ from federal law. For that reason, use our state procedures guide to find your state’s rules. Finally, confirm every source is current before you rely on it.

You can read the official rule text online for free.

Related legal terms

• Stay: a court order pausing proceedings or the enforcement of a judgment.
• Temporary restraining order: a short-term emergency order to prevent immediate and irreparable harm before a hearing can be held.
• Irreparable harm: harm that cannot be adequately remedied by money damages after the fact.
• Verified complaint: a complaint whose allegations are sworn to or declared true under penalty of perjury.

Why precise terms matter

Courts read legal terms closely. As a result, knowing the exact meaning of a word helps you follow orders, rules and filings. Each glossary entry on Lawtopolis is short on purpose and links to the pages where the term is used.