A legal term should be checked against the case record and the applicable court or statute source because the same word can have different effects in different proceedings.

Use the original document

  • Identify the exact term, court, case number, document, and date
  • Read surrounding text rather than relying on a standalone definition
  • Ask counsel or the clerk’s office about procedure; do not alter a filing based on a webpage

The North Carolina Judicial Branch provides a court glossary for general orientation. The controlling meaning in a matter may come from a statute, rule, order, or opinion.

Source