Involuntary servitude

What involuntary servitude means

Put simply, involuntary servitude 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 involuntary servitude 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: Thirteenth Amendment, Peonage.

How to research the term

Start with the primary source. For example, if involuntary servitude 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 involuntary servitude 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

• Internal Revenue Service: the bureau of the U.S.
• Interpleader: a procedure for resolving competing claims to the same money or property in one case.
• Interrogatory: a written question served on another party that must be answered in writing under oath.
• Intervention: a procedure that lets a nonparty become a party to an existing lawsuit.

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.