Debtor

What debtor means

In practice, you will see debtor in pleadings, motions, orders and court rules. The definition above explains the general meaning. Even so, the meaning can shift with context. Therefore, always read it alongside the rule or document where it appears.

Where debtor 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 debtor 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 debtor 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

• De novo: latin for "anew." Under de novo review, an appellate court decides a question fresh, without deferring to the lower court's answer. Questions of law are usually reviewed de novo.
• Debt: money or another obligation one party owes another.
• Debt buyer: a company that purchases debts, often charged-off consumer debts, from the original creditor or another owner.
• Debt collector: under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, a person whose principal purpose is collecting debts, or who regularly collects debts owed to someone else (15 U.S.C. § 1692a(6)). Whether a company that buys debts and collects them for itself is covered can depend on how it operates.

Why precise terms matter

Legal words often look like everyday words, but they can carry a precise meaning. Because of that, a small misreading can change how you understand a deadline, a duty or a right. Our glossary keeps each definition short and links it to the procedures where it matters.