Bound

What bound means

Put simply, bound is part of the working vocabulary of a civil case. The short definition above covers the usual meaning. Still, a specific rule, statute or contract can give it a narrower meaning. For that reason, check how it is used in your own documents.

Where bound comes up

The term is used across many kinds of cases. For example, you may see it in pleadings, motions and court orders. To see it in context, browse the motions and procedures library or the Learn the Law topics.

Read the source: Binding authority.

How to research the term

Start with the primary source. For example, if bound appears in a federal rule, read the rule itself and its official notes. After that, check your court’s local rules and any standing orders from the judge. In addition, search recent decisions from your own state or federal district. They show how courts read bound in practice. Because state rules often differ, our state procedures guide links to each state’s official rules. Above all, make sure the version you read is still in force.

You can read the current federal court rules online for free.

Related legal terms

• Binding: having legal force that must be followed.
• Binding authority: law a court must follow, such as a statute or a decision of a higher court in the same jurisdiction.
• Bona fide: latin for "in good faith." Genuine, real, made honestly and without fraud. For example, a bona fide purchaser buys property for value without notice of another person's competing claim, and many state recording laws protect such buyers.
• Bond: has several meanings.

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.