Legal Definitions - exit

In a legal context, particularly within court records or administrative processes, "exit" refers to the formal act of issuing or sending out an official legal document, order, or process from the court or a legal authority. It signifies that the document has been prepared, signed, and dispatched, making it legally effective and ready for service or enforcement.

Here are some examples illustrating this term:

• Issuance of a Summons:

  When a plaintiff files a lawsuit, the court must formally notify the defendant that they are being sued. This notification is typically done through a document called a summons.

  Illustration: A court's electronic docket entry might show "exit summons," indicating that the official document informing the defendant of the lawsuit and requiring their response has been formally issued by the court and is ready to be served upon them.

• Issuance of a Subpoena:

  During a legal proceeding, a party may need a specific individual to testify or produce documents. A subpoena is a legal order compelling this action.

  Illustration: If a lawyer requests a witness to appear in court, the court clerk will prepare and dispatch the official subpoena. The court record would then reflect an "exit subpoena," meaning the legal order has been formally issued and sent out for delivery to the witness.

• Issuance of a Writ of Garnishment:

  After a court has ordered one party to pay another (a judgment), and the losing party fails to pay, the winning party might seek to collect the money from the debtor's bank account or wages. This often requires a writ of garnishment.

  Illustration: The court would "exit a writ of garnishment," signifying that the official court order authorizing a third party (like a bank or employer) to withhold funds from the debtor and send them to the creditor has been formally prepared, signed, and released for enforcement.