{"id":361096,"date":"2013-01-28T16:34:14","date_gmt":"2013-01-28T21:34:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/dictionary\/definition\/file.html"},"modified":"2013-01-28T16:34:14","modified_gmt":"2013-01-28T21:34:14","slug":"file","status":"publish","type":"dictionary","link":"https:\/\/dictionary.findlaw.com\/definition\/file.html","title":{"rendered":"File"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n

term:<\/p>\n

<\/h1>\n\n
\n

vb<\/p><\/dt>\n

filed<\/b>
fil·ing<\/b>
vt<\/i>
1 a<\/b> :<\/b> to submit (a legal document) to the proper office (as the office of a clerk of court) for keeping on file among the records esp. as a procedural step in a legal transaction or proceeding [filed<\/i> a tax return] [a financing statement filed<\/i> with the Secretary of State] [filing<\/i> a notice of appeal]
;also<\/i>
:<\/b> record <\/a> [filed<\/i> a mortgage in the Registry of Deeds] NOTE: In nearly all cases, a document is deemed to be filed when it is actually received by the office to which it is directed. A few cases, however, have held that a document is filed upon the mailing of it. <\/i>
b<\/b> :<\/b> to place (as a document) on file among the records of an office esp. by formally receiving and endorsing [a complaint filed<\/i> by the clerk despite the absence of the filing fee]
2<\/b> :<\/b> to return (the documentation in a case) to the records of a clerk of court without any determination of the case
;broadly<\/i>
:<\/b> to conclude (a case) without a determination on its merits
3<\/b> :<\/b> to initiate (a judicial or administrative proceeding) by submitting the proper documents or following proper procedure
:<\/b> bring <\/a> [threatened to charges] [two separate actions were filed<\/i> by representatives of the estates “J. H. Friedenthal et al.<\/i>“]
vi<\/i>
1<\/b> :<\/b> to register as a candidate esp. in a primary election
2<\/b> :<\/b> to place items in a file
n :<\/b> a collection of papers or publications usually arranged or classified
;specif<\/i>
:<\/b> the papers that make up the record of a case

on file<\/b>
:<\/b> in or as if in a file for ready reference
<\/b><\/p>\n<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n

Source: Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary of Law \u00a91996. Merriam-Webster, Incorporated. Published under license with Merriam-Webster, Incorporated.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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