Legal Definitions - folio

The term folio has several meanings, primarily rooted in historical document keeping and printing, but also used in modern contexts:

• In a historical legal context, a folio referred to a standardized unit of measurement for legal documents, based on a specific number of words. This unit was often used to calculate fees for legal services or to determine the length of official records.

  • Example 1: In the 1800s, a court clerk preparing a handwritten transcript of trial proceedings might charge the parties a fee based on the number of folios the transcript contained. If the local standard for a folio was 100 words, a 5,000-word transcript would be billed as 50 folios.

    Explanation: Here, "folio" serves as a billing unit, demonstrating its historical use as a measure of document length for professional services.

  • Example 2: An old property deed might include a clause stating that "all attached schedules shall not exceed five folios in length."

    Explanation: This illustrates how "folio" was used as a precise, quantifiable limit for the content of legal attachments, ensuring conciseness and managing the volume of official records.

• More commonly today, a folio simply refers to a page number in a printed book or document.

  • Example 1: When referencing a specific point in a legal textbook, a student might note, "The discussion on contract formation begins on folio 215."

    Explanation: In this context, "folio" is synonymous with "page number," directing the reader to a precise location within the text.

  • Example 2: A lawyer reviewing a lengthy court filing might instruct their paralegal to "check the exhibits listed on folio 18 of the complaint."

    Explanation: This shows "folio" being used to identify a specific page in a multi-page legal document, aiding navigation and reference.

• A folio can also describe a large book format where the pages are created by folding a large sheet of paper only once before binding, resulting in a substantial book size.

  • Example 1: A rare book collector might proudly display a first edition of a classic novel, describing it as a "magnificent folio edition" due to its impressive size and the way its pages were originally printed and bound.

    Explanation: Here, "folio" refers to the physical format and size of the book, indicating a specific historical printing and binding method that results in large pages.

  • Example 2: A university library's special collections department might house several "Shakespeare folios," referring to the large, early collected editions of Shakespeare's plays, which are highly valued for their historical significance and physical format.

    Explanation: This example highlights "folio" as a recognized term for a particular type of large, historically significant book, emphasizing its physical characteristics and historical context.