Legal Definitions - posting

In legal contexts, the term posting refers to several distinct actions, primarily involving the public display or formal recording of information.

• In Accounting: This refers to the act of transferring financial information from initial records (like journals) to a main ledger or account. It's how transactions are formally recorded in a company's financial books.

  • Example 1: A small business owner records all daily sales in a sales journal. At the end of the week, they will post the total sales figure from the journal to the general ledger's revenue account, ensuring the main financial records are updated.

  • Example 2: When a company pays a bill, the bookkeeper first records the payment in the cash disbursements journal. They then post this payment to the appropriate expense account and the cash account in the general ledger, reflecting the outflow of funds.

• In Mail Services: This simply means the act of sending an item through the postal system.

  • Example 1: Before a holiday, many people post greeting cards to friends and family who live far away, entrusting them to the mail service for delivery.

  • Example 2: A university admissions office might post acceptance letters to prospective students, sending the official notifications via traditional mail.

• For Legal Notice and Service of Process: This refers to a method of providing official legal notification or serving court documents by physically displaying them in a prominent, designated public location, especially when other methods of delivery have failed or are impractical.

  • Example 1 (Service of Process): If a defendant in a lawsuit cannot be found after diligent efforts to serve them personally, a court might authorize posting the summons and complaint on the courthouse door. This public display then serves as valid legal notice of the lawsuit.

  • Example 2 (Public Ordinances): A local municipality might post newly enacted zoning ordinances or public health advisories on bulletin boards at the town hall and community centers to ensure residents are informed of the new rules.

  • Example 3 (Judicial Sales): Before a sheriff's auction of foreclosed property, the law often requires posting a detailed notice of the sale, including the property description and auction date, at the county courthouse and sometimes on the property itself, to inform potential bidders.

• In Banking (Check Processing): This describes the series of steps a bank takes to process a check, which typically involves verifying its authenticity, confirming sufficient funds, and updating the relevant customer accounts.

  • Example 1: When a customer deposits a check into their checking account, the bank will post the check by verifying the signature, checking the payer's account for sufficient funds, and then crediting the customer's account with the amount.

  • Example 2: If a business receives a check from a client, their bank will post the check by debiting the client's bank account and crediting the business's account, thereby completing the financial transaction.

  • Example 3: Should a bank discover an error in a previous transaction, such as a check being deposited twice, they might reverse the original posting to correct the customer's account balance.