Legal Definitions - enroll

Enroll, in a legal context, refers to the formal process of officially recording a document or preparing a legislative bill for final approval. It signifies the act of making something part of an official record or ready for an executive's signature, thereby giving it legal effect or status.

• Example 1 (Document Recording):

  A family recently purchased a new home. After the closing, the attorney handling the transaction will arrange to enroll the property deed with the local county recorder's office. This action officially registers the deed in the public records, establishing the family's legal ownership of the property.

  This demonstrates the first meaning of enroll, which is the formal act of recording a legal document (the deed) into an official public record.

• Example 2 (Legislative Bill):

  The state legislature has successfully passed a new bill aimed at improving public education. Before the bill can become law, it must be enrolled. This process involves meticulously preparing the final, official version of the bill, ensuring all approved amendments are included, and then presenting it to the Governor for signature.

  This illustrates the second meaning of enroll, which refers to the final preparation of a legislative bill after it has passed both houses, making it ready for the executive's (Governor's) signature to enact it into law.