Legal Definitions - filing date

The filing date refers to the specific day on which a legal document, application, or other official paperwork is formally submitted to and received by a court, government agency, or other authorized entity. This date is often critically important as it can establish deadlines, determine the priority of claims, or mark the official commencement of a legal process or administrative action.

• Example 1: Lawsuit Commencement

  Imagine a person, Sarah, believes she was unfairly dismissed from her job and decides to sue her former employer. On March 15th, she submits her complaint to the civil court. The court clerk officially stamps and records the document. March 15th becomes the filing date for Sarah's lawsuit. This date is crucial because it marks the official start of the legal proceedings and often triggers various deadlines, such as the time limit for the employer to respond to the complaint.

• Example 2: Patent Application Priority

  An inventor, David, develops a new type of solar panel and wants to protect his invention with a patent. He prepares and submits his detailed patent application to the patent office on October 20th. This date, October 20th, is the filing date for his patent application. If another inventor submits a similar application a week later, David's earlier filing date typically gives him priority, meaning his application will be considered first and he will likely be granted the patent if all other requirements are met, even if the other inventor conceived of the idea around the same time.

• Example 3: Real Estate Lien

  A contractor, Maria, completes a major renovation on a client's home but is not paid for her work. To secure payment, she decides to place a mechanic's lien on the property. She prepares the necessary legal document and submits it to the county recorder's office on June 1st. June 1st is the filing date for the lien. This date is important because it establishes the lien's priority against other potential claims or debts against the property. For instance, if the homeowner later tries to sell or refinance the property, Maria's lien, established by its filing date, would typically need to be satisfied before other, later-filed claims.