Creature
Creature: In legal writing, something that exists only because the law created it. Courts often call a corporation a "creature of the state" or an agency a "creature of statute," meaning it has only the powers that the law creating it gives it. For example, a federal agency can act only within the authority Congress granted.
What creature means
Put simply, creature 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 creature 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: Authority.
How to research the term
To research creature, begin with the rule, statute or contract where the word is used. Each one can give it a slightly different meaning. Then compare that text with how courts in your area have applied it. Also check the local rules of your court, since they can add requirements. If your case is in state court, the state rules control. So start with our state procedures guide to find them. In the end, always confirm that the source you rely on is current.
You can read the current federal court rules online for free.
Related legal terms
- Costs: court-related expenses that a winning party may recover from the losing party, such as filing fees and transcript fees. In federal court, 28 U.S.C. § 1920 lists taxable costs. Attorney's fees are generally not included in costs.
- Counterclaim: a claim by a defending party against the party who sued it.
- Court: a government body with authority to decide legal disputes and administer justice, or the judge or judges who sit in it. Courts are organized by level, such as trial courts, intermediate appellate courts and a highest court, and by jurisdiction, such as federal or state.
- Court Registry Investment System: the program, administered by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, through which federal courts invest money deposited into a court's registry, for example under Fed. R. Civ. P. 67 and 28 U.S.C. § 2041. Money in the registry may be withdrawn only by order of the court (28 U.S.C. § 2042). Abbreviated CRIS.
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.