Legal Definitions - et seq

Et seq. is a Latin abbreviation that stands for "and the following."

In legal and academic contexts, it is used to indicate that a reference applies not only to the specific item cited (such as a page, section, article, or rule number) but also to all subsequent items in that sequence. Essentially, it tells the reader to look at the cited point and continue examining the material immediately after it.

• Example 1: A legal brief states, "The court's interpretation of environmental protection standards is primarily guided by 40 CFR § 1500.1 et seq."

  Explanation: This means that the relevant environmental standards are not confined to just section 1500.1. Instead, they are found in section 1500.1 and all the sections that immediately follow it within that part of the Code of Federal Regulations, covering a range of related provisions.

• Example 2: A law student's research paper cites, "For a comprehensive analysis of contract formation, see Farnsworth on Contracts, Vol. I, page 25 et seq."

  Explanation: This indicates that the detailed discussion on contract formation begins on page 25 of Volume I of the treatise and continues through the subsequent pages, likely covering the entire topic across multiple pages or even chapters.

• Example 3: A lawyer preparing for a court hearing notes, "Motions for summary judgment must comply with the requirements outlined in Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 56 et seq."

  Explanation: This signifies that the rules governing motions for summary judgment include not only Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 56 itself but also any subsequent sub-sections or related rules that immediately follow it within the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, which collectively detail the process and requirements.