Verified complaint

What verified complaint means

Put simply, verified complaint 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 verified complaint comes up

For example, the term appears in these procedures:

• Motion for a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) (Fed. R. Civ. P. 65(b)): an emergency request for a short-term order, sometimes without notice to the other side, to prevent immediate and irreparable harm.

How to research the term

First, read the term where it actually appears. A rule, statute or court decision may define it for its own purposes. Next, check whether your court has a local rule that uses verified complaint in a special way. Then look at recent decisions from courts in your jurisdiction. They show how judges apply the term today. Also, remember that state law can differ from federal law. For that reason, use our state procedures guide to find your state’s rules. Finally, confirm every source is current before you rely on it.

You can read the official rule text online for free.

Related legal terms

• Temporary restraining order: a short-term emergency order to prevent immediate and irreparable harm before a hearing can be held.
• Irreparable harm: harm that cannot be adequately remedied by money damages after the fact.
• Bond: security posted with the court, such as for an injunction or to stay enforcement of a judgment.

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.