Dictionary of Law
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

in propria persona :: legal definition


In propria persona - adj. from Latin "for one's self," acting on one's own behalf, generally used to identify a person who is acting as his/her own attorney in a lawsuit. The popular abbreviation is "in pro per." In the filed legal documents (pleadings), the party's name, address and telephone number are written where the name, address and telephone number of the attorney would normally be stated. The words "in propria persona" or "in pro per" are typed where normally it would say "attorney for plaintiff." Judges sometimes warn a party "in propria persona" of the old adage that "anyone who represents himself in court has a fool for a client and an ass for an attorney."


Related Law Terms

adoption :: n. the taking of a child into one's family, creati ... the child are met. See also: adopt
amend :: v. to alter or change by adding, subtracting, or s ... mended pleading statute stipulation
anticipatory breach :: n. when a party to a contract repudiates (reneges ... perform. See also: breach contract
antitrust laws :: n. acts adopted by Congress to outlaw or restrict ... so: price fixing restraint of trade
appeal :: 1) v. to ask a higher court to reverse the decisio ... ng, as in "he has filed an appeal."
appearance :: n. the act of a party or an attorney showing up in ... neral appearance special appearance
approach the bench :: v. an attorney's movement from the counsel table t ... ake a recess to go to the restroom.
attachment :: n. the seizing of money or property prior to getti ... bond. See also: writ of attachment
attempt :: v. and n. to actually try to commit a crime and ha ... felt he tried but did not succeed.
Attorney General :: n. in each state and the federal government the hi ... izenry. See also: Solicitor General
attorney-in-fact :: n. someone specifically named by another through a ... cument. See also: power of attorney
bankruptcy :: n. a federal system of statutes and courts which p ... y proceedings trustee in bankruptcy
bar :: 1) n. collectively all attorneys, as "the bar," wh ... a room, building, or real property.
bar examination :: n. the examination given in each state by either t ... n that district. See also: attorney
breach :: 1) n. literally, a break. A breach may be a failur ... breach of trust breach of warranty
caption :: n. the first section of any written legal pleading ... to the exact format of the caption.
challenge :: n. the right of each attorney in a jury trial to r ... ess. See also: peremptory challenge
complaint :: n. the first document filed with the court (actual ... g prayer service of process summons
consideration :: n. 1) payment or money. 2) a vital element in the ... t of a promise). See also: contract
continuing objection :: n. an objection to certain questions or testimony ... ional distress. See also: objection
contract :: 1) n. an agreement with specific terms between two ... n oral contract unilateral contract
criminal calendar :: n. the list of criminal cases to be called in cour ... e plea preliminary hearing sentence
cross-complaint :: n. after a complaint has been filed against a defe ... g prayer service of process summons
damages :: n. the amount of money which a plaintiff (the pers ... liquidated damages special damages
deed :: 1) n. the written document which transfers title ( ... veyance deed of trust warranty deed
deposition :: n. the taking and recording of testimony of a witn ... See also: deponent depose discovery
entrapment :: n. in criminal law, the act of law enforcement off ... e drugs if not pressed by the narc?
fictitious defendants :: n. when a party suing (plaintiff) is not sure if h ... are not permitted in federal cases.
file :: 1) v. to deposit with the clerk of the court a wri ... rrespondence and notes on the case.
fraud :: n. the intentional use of deceit, a trick or some ... audulent conveyance intrinsic fraud
hearsay rule :: n. the basic rule that testimony or documents whic ... interest dying declaration hearsay
in absentia :: (in ab-sensh-ee-ah) adj. or adv. phrase. Latin for ... tin Bormann, Hitler's closest aide.
in kind :: adj. referring to payment, distribution or substit ... . See also: distribution trust will
in re :: prep. short for "in regard to" or concerning. Ofte ... e Adoption of Marcus McGillicuddy."
in terrorem clause :: (in tehr-roar-em)n. from Latin for "in fear," a pr ... e gift. See also: will will contest
in toto :: (in toe-toe)adj. Latin for "completely" or "in tot ... r "the case was dismissed in toto."
injunction :: n. a writ (order) issued by a court ordering someo ... t. See also: injunctive relief writ
insurance :: n. a contract (insurance policy) in which the insu ... t clause Workers' Compensation Acts
interest :: n. 1) any and all, partial or total right to prope ... nal property real property standing
irrelevant :: adj. not important, pertinent, or germane to the m ... ce immaterial incompetent objection
joint and several :: adj. referring to a debt or a judgment for neglige ... ution contributory negligence joint
jury :: n. one of the remarkable innovations of the Englis ... hallenge sequester venire voir dire
last clear chance :: n. a rule of law in determining responsibility for ... contributory negligence negligence
libel :: 1) n. to publish in print (including pictures), wr ... libel per se public figure slander
living will :: n. also called "a durable power of attorney," it i ... upport. See also: power of attorney
malpractice :: n. An act or continuing conduct of a professional ... eed. See also: errors and omissions
maxims :: n. a collection of legal truisms which are used as ... e and the ordinary habits of life."
motion :: n. a formal request made to a judge for an order o ... g, an oral motion may be permitted.
motion for a summary judgment :: n. a written request for a judgment in the moving ... strict procedures. See also: motion
notice :: n. 1) information, usually in writing in all legal ... Thirty-day notice three-day notice
object :: 1) v. to ask the court not to allow a particular q ... he contract..." See also: objection
objection :: n. a lawyer's protest about the legal propriety of ... ng question object overrule sustain
paid into court :: adj. referring to money deposited with the clerk o ... differences. See also: interpleader
party of the first part :: n. reference in a written contract to identify one ... ies another party to the agreement.
peremptory challenge :: n. the right of the plaintiff and the defendant in ... challenge for cause jury voir dire
petition :: 1) n. a formal written request to a court for an o ... dent. See also: divorce motion writ
pleading :: n. 1) every legal document filed in a lawsuit, pet ... nswer complaint demurrer plea plead
power of attorney :: n. a written document signed by a person giving an ... y, as in a real estate transaction.
prevailing party :: n. the winner in a lawsuit. Many contracts, leases ... ed before or after trial has begun.
privileged communication :: n. statements and conversations made under circums ... See also: attorney-client privilege
pro per :: adj. short for "propria persona," which is Latin f ... in propria persona propria persona
pro se :: (proh say) prep. Latin for "for himself." A party ... o se." See also: in propria persona
pro tem :: 1) adj. short for the Latin pro tempore, temporari ... as "Sam Collins is Pro Tem today."
promise :: 1) n. a firm agreement to perform an act, refrain ... so: consideration contract covenant
propria persona :: adj. from Latin, for oneself. See also: in pro per ... pro per in propria persona pro per
request :: 1) v. to ask or demand a judge to act (such as iss ... n. the act of asking or demanding.
sanction :: n. 1) a financial penalty imposed by a judge on a ... ction." See also: contempt of court
satisfaction of judgment :: n. a document signed by a judgment creditor (the p ... ord. See also: abstract of judgment
service by mail :: n. mailing legal pleadings to opposing attorneys o ... attorney by mail. See also: service
special prosecutor :: n. an attorney from outside of the government sele ... Robert Bork finally discharged Cox.
substitution of attorney :: n. a document in which the party to a lawsuit stat ... t any time. See also: substitute in
summary adjudication of issues :: n. a court order ruling that certain factual issue ... is made. See also: summary judgment
summary judgment :: n. a court order ruling that no factual issues rem ... tion summary adjudication of issues
trial :: n. the examination of facts and law presided over ... at a hearing held at a later time.
wiretap :: n. using an electronic device to listen in on tele ... invasion of privacy probable cause
Workers' Compensation Acts :: n. state statutes which establish liability of emp ... rs' compensation insurance company.
wrongful death :: n. the death of a human being as the result of a w ... ual beneficiaries (family members).

Popular Law Searches

legal definition ministerial act :: n. an act, particularly of a governmental employee ... exercising any individual judgment.
chancery legal definition :: n. a court that can order acts performed. Today ch ... ts in most states. See also: equity
testamentary disposition legal definition :: n. how the terms of a will divide the testator's ( ... named beneficiaries. See also: will
contract of sufferance :: n. a "hold-over" tenancy after a lease has expired ... y tenancy at will unlawful detainer
forthwith legal definition :: adv. a term found in contracts, court orders and s ... mediacy, with no excuses for delay.
forthwith definition legal :: adv. a term found in contracts, court orders and s ... mediacy, with no excuses for delay.
what is to wit in a legal contract :: prep. that is to say. Example: "the passengers in ... tty Bumgartner and Sherry Younger."
mirror wills legal definition :: n. the wills of a husband and wife which are ident ... d each names the other as executor.
clean hands doctrine latin :: n. a rule of law that a person coming to court wit ... ices. See also: affirmative defense
sine qua non only relates to contract law :: (see-nay kwah nahn) prep. Latin for "without which ... qua non of the injury to Playmate.

Other Law Terms - I

i.e. :: prep. abbreviation for id est, which is Latin for ... "e.g.," which means "for example."
illegal :: 1) adj. in violation of statute, regulation or ord ... . See also: alien illegal immigrant
illegal immigrant :: n. an alien (non-citizen) who has entered the Unit ... ion date of a visa. See also: alien
illusory promise :: n. an agreement to do something that is so indefin ... he may have thought was a contract.
immaterial :: adj. a commonly heard objection to introducing evi ... ons. See also: irrelevant objection
immediately :: adv. 1) at once. 2) in orders of the court or in c ... oon as can be done" without excuse.
immunity :: n. exemption from penalties, payments or legal req ... ws. See also: governmental immunity
impanel :: v. to select and install a jury. See also: impanel ... l a jury. See also: impaneling jury
impaneling :: n. the act of selecting a jury from the list of po ... e juror jury panel venire voir dire
impeach :: v. 1) to discredit the testimony of a witness by p ... ve been found guilty by the Senate.
impeachment :: n. 1) discrediting a witness by showing that he/sh ... the trial itself. See also: impeach
impleader :: n. a procedural device before trial in which a par ... than having two suits in a series.
implied :: adj., adv. referring to circumstances, conduct or ... nt implied consent implied warranty
implied consent :: n. consent when surrounding circumstances exist wh ... aybe" or "later." See also: implied
implied contract :: n. an agreement which is found to exist based on t ... : contract express contract implied
implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing :: n. a general assumption of the law of contracts, t ... -long employment. See also: implied
implied warranty :: n. an assumption at law that products are "merchan ... er. See also: caveat emptor implied
impossibility :: n. when an act cannot be performed due to nature, ... cel) a contract. See also: contract
impotence :: n. the male's inability to copulate. Impotence can ... eans inability to produce children.
impound :: v. 1) to collect funds, in addition to installment ... cases. See also: forfeit forfeiture