Motion in limine

What motion in limine means

Put simply, motion in limine definition 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 motion in limine definition comes up

For example, the term appears in these procedures:

• Motion in Limine (Court's authority to manage trials; see Luce v. United States, 469 U.S. 38 (1984)): a pretrial motion asking the court to rule in advance on whether particular evidence may be used at trial.

How to research the term

Start with the primary source. For example, if motion in limine definition 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 motion in limine definition 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

• Evidence: testimony, documents and things offered to prove or disprove facts.
• Relevant evidence: under Federal Rule of Evidence 401, evidence is relevant if it has any tendency to make a fact more or less probable than it would be without the evidence, and the fact is of consequence in determining the action.
• Hearsay: under Federal Rule of Evidence 801(c), a statement the declarant does not make while testifying at the current trial or hearing, offered to prove the truth of the matter asserted. Many exceptions and exclusions exist.

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.