Transfer

What transfer means

Put simply, transfer 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 transfer 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

Start with the primary source. For example, if transfer 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 transfer 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

• Sustained: the judge's ruling agreeing with an objection. When an objection to a question is sustained, the witness does not answer it; when an objection to evidence is sustained, the evidence is excluded or, if already heard, may be stricken.
• Temporary restraining order: a short-term emergency order to prevent immediate and irreparable harm before a hearing can be held.
• Title: has several meanings.
• Tort: a civil wrong, other than a breach of contract, that causes harm and for which the law allows a lawsuit for damages. Negligence, defamation and trespass are examples.

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.