Equitable

What equitable means

Put simply, equitable 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 equitable comes up

For example, the term appears in these procedures:

• Motion for a Preliminary Injunction (Fed. R. Civ. P. 65(a)): a request for an order that preserves the situation while the case is decided.

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 equitable 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

• Preliminary injunction: an order issued during a case, after notice, to preserve the situation until the case is decided.
• Injunction: a court order requiring a party to do or stop doing something.
• Equity: the body of law, historically administered by courts of chancery, that provides remedies such as injunctions and specific performance.
• Restraining order: a court order that tells a person to do, or more often not to do, something.

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.