Charge-off
Charge-off: An accounting entry in which a creditor writes off a debt as a loss on its books because it does not expect to collect it. Federal banking regulators' policy generally calls for open-end retail credit, such as credit cards, to be charged off after 180 days past due. A charge-off does not cancel the debt: the borrower still owes it unless it is paid, settled, discharged in bankruptcy or otherwise forgiven, and the creditor may still try to collect it or sell it, subject to limits such as the statute of limitations.
What charge-off means
Put simply, charge-off 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 charge-off 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.
How to research the term
Start with the primary source. For example, if charge-off 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 charge-off 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
- Certificate of title: a document issued by a state agency, usually the motor vehicle department, that identifies the owner of a vehicle (or other titled property such as a boat or manufactured home) and any lienholder.
- Certificate of trust: a short document, signed by the trustee, that proves a trust exists and states key facts, such as the trust's name and date and the trustee's powers, without revealing the full trust terms.
- Certiorari: a writ by which a higher court agrees to review a lower court's decision. Review by the U.S. Supreme Court on a writ of certiorari is a matter of judicial discretion, not of right (Supreme Court Rule 10).
- Chain of title: the sequence of recorded transfers of an interest in property from earlier holders to the current one.
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.
Sources
Sources last reviewed: 2026-10-24
Lawtopolis provides legal information and education, not legal advice. Using this site does not create an attorney-client relationship. Laws and court rules vary by jurisdiction and change over time; verify every authority against the official source and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction about your situation.