Legal Definitions - apply

Apply (verb)

In a legal context, "apply" refers to several distinct actions:

• 1. To make a formal request or petition for something.

  • Example 1: A startup company might apply to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for a patent to protect its new technology.
  • Explanation: Here, "apply" means the company is formally submitting a request to a government agency to obtain a specific legal right (a patent).
  • Example 2: A citizen seeking to immigrate to another country must first apply for a visa through that country's embassy or consulate.
  • Explanation: This illustrates the act of formally requesting permission or status from an official body.

• 2. To designate or use something for a specific purpose.

  • Example 1: After a court settlement, the judge ordered the defendant to apply a portion of the awarded funds directly to cover the plaintiff's outstanding medical bills.
  • Explanation: This shows the act of directing or allocating money for a particular, defined use as mandated by a legal decision.
  • Example 2: A charitable organization might apply a specific donation solely to its disaster relief efforts, as stipulated by the donor.
  • Explanation: This demonstrates the act of dedicating resources to a particular, limited purpose.

• 3. To use a rule, principle, or standard in a specific situation or context.

  • Example 1: A judge must carefully apply the relevant statutes and legal precedents to the unique facts presented in a new case to reach a fair verdict.
  • Explanation: This refers to the process of taking established laws and using them to analyze and resolve a particular set of circumstances.
  • Example 2: Environmental protection agencies often apply strict regulations regarding waste disposal to industrial facilities to prevent pollution.
  • Explanation: This illustrates how specific rules or standards are put into practice and enforced within a particular industry or context.