Disbursement

What disbursement means

In practice, you will see disbursement 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 disbursement comes up

For example, the term appears in these procedures:

• Deposit into the Court Registry (CRIS) (Fed. R. Civ. P. 67; 28 U.S.C. §§ 2041, 2042): a procedure for paying money, or delivering a thing in dispute, into the court's custody while the court decides the case. Federal courts then invest registry funds through the Court Registry Investment System (CRIS), which the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts administers.

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 disbursement 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

• Deposit: money or property that a person places with someone else for safekeeping or as security.
• 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 Money in the registry may be withdrawn only by order of the court (28 U.S.C. § 2042).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.
• Deposition: out-of-court testimony given under oath and recorded, usually in question-and-answer form.
• Direct examination: the first questioning of a witness by the party who called the witness. Leading questions are generally not used on direct examination (Federal Rule of Evidence 611(c)).

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.