Legal

What legal means

In practice, you will see legal 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 comes up

For example, the term appears in these procedures:

• Complaint (Fed. R. Civ. P. 3, 8(a)): the pleading that starts a civil action. Under Rule 3, a civil action is commenced by filing a complaint with the court.

How to research the term

Start with the primary source. For example, if legal 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 legal 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 official rule text online for free.

Related legal terms

• Plaintiff: the person or entity that starts a civil lawsuit by filing a complaint.
• Pleading: a formal written statement of a party's claims or defenses. Under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 7(a), the pleadings are the complaint, the answer, and certain other listed documents. Motions are not pleadings.
• Complaint: the pleading that starts a civil case by stating the plaintiff's claims and the relief requested.
• Caption: the heading of a court document identifying the court, the parties, the case number and the document title.
• Filed: officially made part of a court's record.

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.