Also known as:known as · aka · a/k/a · also known as
Written by attorneys · grounded in primary & secondary sources — see below
An abbreviation placed after a party's formal name to introduce an alternative designation by which that party is also identified in legal documents or proceedings.
Sources & Authorities· 12 primary sources
Select any source to read its text and confirm it supports the definition.
Statutes
Federal Rules
Uniform Acts
How it applies
Common Examples
6
Accredited Genetic Testing Order
Kimberly Knox k/a K. N. Knox petitioned for parentage establishment. The court ordered genetic testing performed only at an AABB-accredited laboratory using buccal swabs. The results were admitted because they satisfied the statutory reliability requirements.
Eminent Domain Challenge
Kaito Kato k/a K. Kato owned waterfront parcels targeted for redevelopment. The city initiated condemnation proceedings claiming public use. Kato challenged the taking on grounds that the project primarily benefited private developers.
Kelo, et al. v. City of New London545 U.S. 469, 503 (2005)
Labor Regulation Dispute
Kristopher Kurtz k/a K. Kurtz operated a bakery subject to maximum-hours legislation. State inspectors cited the business for violating daily work limits. Kurtz defended on the theory that the statute infringed liberty of contract.
Lochner v. New York198 U.S. 45 (1905)
Sentencing Enhancement Hearing
Khalil Kabir k/a K. Kabir was convicted of unlawful possession. The prosecution sought a sentence increase based on a prior hate-crime finding made by the judge alone. Kabir objected that the enhancement violated the jury-trial guarantee.
Apprendi v. New Jersey530 U.S. 466 (2000)
Zoning Discrimination Claim
Kiara Kaur k/a K. Kaur proposed a multifamily housing development. Village officials denied the permit citing traffic concerns. Kaur alleged the denial was motivated by racial animus against prospective residents.
Arlington Heights, Village of v. Metropolitan Housing Development Corp.429 U.S. 252, 97 S.Ct. 555, 50 L.Ed.2d 450 (1977), on remand 558 F.2d 1283 (7th Cir.1977)
Jurisdictional Attachment Proceeding
Kira Kapoor k/a K. Kapoor obtained a judgment against a nonresident debtor. She sought to attach the debtor's in-state property to satisfy the award. The court examined whether the property's presence alone conferred jurisdiction over the absent owner.
Pennoyer v. Neff95 U.S. 714, 732–33 (1878)
Common questions
Frequently Asked
3
When is the abbreviation k/a properly inserted in a pleading or contract?+
The abbreviation follows a party's formal name to signal that an alternative designation will also be used. It alerts readers that subsequent references may employ either name without creating ambiguity about identity.
Does using k/a change any substantive legal rights or obligations?+
No. The abbreviation is purely identificatory and carries no independent legal effect. Rights and duties attach to the underlying party regardless of which name appears after the abbreviation.
How does k/a differ from a party's legal name in court filings?+
A legal name is the formal designation under which a party sues or is sued. The k/a designation simply provides an additional identifier and does not replace the legal name for purposes of service, judgment, or record-keeping.
418 U.S. 323, 94 S. Ct. 2997, 41 L. Ed. 2d 789 (1974)Torts
…to lift." The article stated that petitioner had been an official of the "Marxist League for Industrial Democracy, originally known as the Intercollegiate Socialist Society, which has advocated the violent seizure of our government." It labeled Gertz a "Leninist" and a "Communist-fronter." It also stated that Gertz had…