Legal Definitions - re

Re is a Latin term frequently used in legal and business contexts to mean regarding, concerning, or in the matter of. It serves as a concise way to introduce the specific subject or topic of a document, correspondence, or legal proceeding.

• Example 1: Legal Case Title

  Imagine a court case where a judge needs to make decisions about the guardianship of a minor child. The official title of such a case might appear as: In re Guardianship of Sarah Miller.

  This illustrates "re" by clearly stating that the legal proceedings are specifically "in the matter of" or "concerning" the guardianship of Sarah Miller, focusing the court's attention on that particular issue.

• Example 2: Business Email Subject Line

  When you receive an email with a subject line like: Re: Q3 Financial Report Review Meeting.

  Here, "Re" indicates that the email's content is "regarding" or "concerning" the upcoming meeting to review the third-quarter financial report, immediately informing the recipient of the email's purpose.

• Example 3: Formal Memo Heading

  Consider a company memo distributed to employees about an upcoming change in benefits. The memo might begin with a heading such as: Re: Updates to Employee Health Benefits Plan.

  In this context, "Re" signals that the memo's entire content is "in the matter of" or "concerning" the changes being made to the employee health benefits plan, providing a clear subject for the document.