Pro se glossary: court words in plain English

• About 3 minread
• General ideashold in most courts
• Checked October 30, 2026educational only

Who is who

• Pro se. Latin for “for oneself.” It describes a person who handles their own court case without a lawyer.
• Self-represented litigant. The plain-English term many courts use for a pro se person. Same meaning.
• Plaintiff. The person or company that starts a lawsuit.
• Defendant. The person or company being sued.
• Petitioner and respondent. Used in some kinds of cases instead of plaintiff and defendant. The petitioner asks the court for something; the respondent answers.
• Clerk. The court staff who accept papers, keep the case file and answer process questions. Clerks cannot give legal advice.

Starting a case

• Summons. A court paper that tells you that you are being sued and that you have a limited time to respond.
• Complaint. The paper that explains what the plaintiff says happened and what they want from the court.
• Service (and proof of service). How court papers are formally delivered to the other side. Proof of service is the record that it was done, and when.
• Index number. In New York courts, the number assigned to a case so every paper can be matched to it. Other courts call it a case number or docket number.
• Filing. Giving a paper to the court so it becomes part of the case record, on paper or through an e-filing system.
• Fee waiver. A court's permission to skip or reduce filing fees if you cannot afford them. New York calls it poor person relief; federal courts use the phrase in forma pauperis.

Papers and deadlines

• Answer. Your written response to a complaint. The deadline is short and is stated in the papers you were given.
• Default. What can happen when a person does not respond by the deadline: the other side may ask the court to rule without hearing from you.
• Motion. A written request asking the court to do something, such as to give more time or to decide an issue.
• Affidavit and affirmation. A written statement of facts signed under penalty of perjury, used to support a motion. Check your court's rules for which form it wants.
• Opposition. Your written response to the other side's motion.
• Return date. The date a motion is scheduled to come before the court.
• Docket. The court's running list of everything filed and every event in your case.

In and after the courtroom

• Conference. A meeting with the judge or court staff, often to talk about settlement or next steps. It is usually not a trial.
• Hearing. A court session where the judge listens to arguments or evidence on a specific question.
• Trial. A court session where evidence is presented so the judge or jury can decide the case.
• Order. A written direction from the judge that people in the case must follow.
• Judgment. The court's final decision on the main questions in a case.
• Appeal. A request to a higher court to review a decision. Appeals have their own strict deadlines and rules.
• Sanctions. Penalties a court can impose for breaking its rules, such as filing something misleading or ignoring a court order.
• Limited-scope help. A lawyer helping with one part of your case, such as reviewing a paper, while you handle the rest.