motion

Procedural Legal ActionLegal glossary term

Legal Definition

A formal request made by one party in a legal proceeding, such as a court or administrative body, to ask the judge or decision-maker to perform a specific action, such as granting an injunction, dismissing a case, or ruling on a specific issue of the dispute.

Plain-English Translation

It's a formal request made by one person in a lawsuit or legal process to ask the judge to do something specific, like asking the judge to decide if a certain rule is correct or incorrect.

Context in Contracts

It matters because it initiates the process of asking the court to resolve a legal question, such as requesting a judge to grant an injunction or to move the case forward based on the facts presented.

Visual model

Understand motion fast

An explainer image has not been generated for this term yet.
01

A motion to dismiss, where one party asks the court to rule that the claim should be dismissed because the facts support it.

02

A motion for an injunction, where a party asks the court to order the defendant to stop doing something specific.

Document context

How motion shows up in legal documents

What is it?

A formal request submitted to a court or administrative body seeking a judicial decision or action regarding a specific legal issue within a dispute.

Why does it matter?

It matters because it initiates the process of asking the court to resolve a legal question, such as requesting a judge to grant an injunction or to move the case forward based on the facts presented.

When does it matter?

When a party needs to formally ask the court to make a decision or take action regarding a specific point of contention in a lawsuit or administrative proceeding.

Where is it usually seen?

Usually found in pleadings, motions filed with the court, or within legal briefs submitted to a judge.

Who is affected?

Affected parties, including litigants, attorneys, and judges, are involved in the process of filing and responding to motions.

How does it work?

A motion is presented as a formal argument to the court; it sets forth a specific request for relief or decision based on the legal arguments presented by the moving party.

Share

Send this term to someone else fast

Copy the link, open native sharing, or scan the QR code from another device.

QR code for motion

Scan to open this glossary page on another device.

Wikipedia

Motion

Motion

In physics, motion is the change in position of an object with respect to a reference point over a given time. Motion is mathematically described in terms of displacement, distance, velocity, acceleration, speed, and frame of reference to an observer,...

Open on Wikipedia

Move from term to document

See the real contract language around this term

A glossary definition helps, but actual risk usually lives in the surrounding clause. Upload the full document and BrieflyGo will map plain-English meaning, red flags, and next steps.

Disclaimer: We do not provide legal advice. We translate legal language into plain English and help you prepare for a conversation with a lawyer.