Good cause

What good cause means

In practice, you will see good cause 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 good cause comes up

For example, the term appears in these procedures:

• Motion to Modify the Scheduling Order (Fed. R. Civ. P. 16(b)(4)): a request to change a deadline in the court's scheduling order.
• Motion to Set Aside a Default (Fed. R. Civ. P. 55(c)): a request to undo an entry of default, or a default judgment.

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 good cause 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

• Scheduling order: a court order setting deadlines for the main stages of a case.
• Continuance: postponement of a hearing, trial or deadline.
• Default: a party's failure to plead or otherwise defend within the time allowed, which the clerk records as an entry of default.

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.