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Law vocabulary · Lawsuits & Procedure

File

Meaning in law, with examples

/faɪl/verbCore term

In law, file means: To officially give a document to a court or public office so that it becomes part of the record, for example to start a case or to answer one.

In Turkish: (dava) açmak, sunmak, dosyalamak

How it is used

Extremely common in US practice: 'file a lawsuit', 'file a motion', 'file an appeal', 'file for bankruptcy'. British lawyers also 'file' documents at court, but they usually 'issue a claim' and 'lodge an appeal'. Many courts now use electronic filing.

Example sentences

  1. We need to file the defence by Friday; the deadline cannot be extended again.

  2. The company filed for bankruptcy two months after the judgment.

Common collocations

  • file a lawsuit
  • file a motion
  • file an appeal
  • file for bankruptcy
  • file with the court
  • lawsuitA claim that one person or company brings against another in a civil court, usually asking for money or for an order to stop something.
  • claimA formal demand for money, property or another remedy, especially one made in court; also a statement that something is true which has not yet been proved.
  • motionA formal request to a judge, made in writing or orally during a case, asking the court to make a particular order or decision.
  • appealTo ask a higher court to review and change the decision of a lower court; also used as a noun for this request.
  • proceedingsThe formal steps of a legal case, from the moment it is started until it is finished; the legal process as a whole.

This word in other fields

The same English word can have a different meaning in another field:

More terms: Lawsuits & Procedure

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not legal advice.