Legal person

What legal person means

In practice, you will see legal person 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 legal person 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

To research legal person, begin with the rule, statute or contract where the word is used. Each one can give it a slightly different meaning. Then compare that text with how courts in your area have applied it. Also check the local rules of your court, since they can add requirements. If your case is in state court, the state rules control. So start with our state procedures guide to find them. In the end, always confirm that the source you rely on is current.

You can read the current federal court rules online for free.

Related legal terms

• Legal capacity: the ability the law recognizes for a person to take legal action, such as making a contract, suing or being sued. Minors and people under guardianship may have limited capacity. Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 17(b) explains how capacity to sue or be sued is decided in federal court.
• Legal disability: a condition, such as being a minor or having been found legally incompetent, that limits a person's capacity to do certain legal acts, such as making a binding contract or suing in his or her own name. In many states, a legal disability also pauses (tolls) the statute of limitations until the disability ends.
• Legal fiction: something the law treats as true, even if it is not literally true, so that a legal rule can work. A common example is treating a corporation as a "person" that can own property, make contracts and be sued.
• Legal name: the name that identifies a person for legal purposes. For an individual, it is generally the name recorded at birth unless lawfully changed, for example by marriage or court order. For a business entity, it is the name in its formation documents.

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.