Legal Definitions - filing

A filing refers to any document officially submitted to a court, government agency, or other authorized entity to be added to an official record or case file. These documents are typically required by law or specific rules to initiate, respond to, or support a legal action, administrative process, or regulatory requirement.

• Example 1: When a person decides to sue a company for damages after an accident, their lawyer prepares a document outlining the claims and requests. This document, known as a complaint, is then delivered to the court clerk's office.

  Explanation: The complaint, once officially submitted to the court clerk, becomes the initial filing that formally begins the lawsuit and is added to the court's permanent record for that case.

• Example 2: In a divorce proceeding, one spouse might request temporary financial support from the other while the case is ongoing. To do this, their attorney prepares a formal written request, often called a motion, detailing the reasons for the request and the amount sought.

  Explanation: Submitting this motion to the court is considered a filing, as it is an official document presented to the court for consideration and becomes part of the case's legal record.

• Example 3: A new startup company needs to register its business name and legal structure with the state government to operate legally. The founders complete a form detailing their business information and submit it to the Secretary of State's office.

  Explanation: This completed form, once submitted to the state agency, is a filing that officially registers the business and becomes part of the public record of corporations in that state.