Also known as:order documents · court order · purchase order
Written by attorneys · grounded in primary & secondary sources — see below
A formal written directive issued by a court or other authority that requires or authorizes a particular action or decision. It binds parties to comply with its terms and may trigger sanctions for noncompliance.
Sources & Authorities· 29 primary sources
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How it applies
Common Examples
6
Witness Refusal Triggers Unavailability
Oswald Orozco receives a subpoena and a court order document directing him to testify at trial about a prior statement. He appears but refuses to answer questions on the subject despite the directive. The court finds him unavailable under the evidence rule because he defied the order document.
Disclosure Permitted to Follow Order
Olga O'Neill, a lawyer, learns that a court order document requires her to reveal limited client information to comply with a separate statute. She discloses only what the order document mandates. The disclosure falls within the exception allowing revelation to obey the directive.
Divorce Revokes Prior Designations
Onyx O'Reilly's will names his former spouse as beneficiary. After divorce, a court order document finalizes the marital property division without preserving the designation. The order document triggers revocation of the bequest under the probate statute.
Urgent Reentry Without Order
Odette Orozco believes she was unlawfully ousted from her land and faces exceptional hardship if she waits. She uses force to reenter immediately. The circumstances satisfy the urgency condition that excuses obtaining a prior court order document.
Support Creditor Enforces Against Trust
Otto Osman holds a judgment order document against a trust beneficiary for child support. The spendthrift clause does not protect the trust assets from enforcement of this order document.
Ex Parte Contact Barred Absent Order
Orion Orlov represents a client in pending litigation. He attempts to speak directly with a represented juror about the case without permission. The contact violates the rule unless a court order document expressly authorizes it.
Common questions
Frequently Asked
6
When does a witness become unavailable because of an order document?+
A witness is unavailable if the court issues an order document compelling testimony and the witness refuses to comply. The refusal must concern the subject matter of the prior statement. This finding allows introduction of the prior statement under the hearsay exception for unavailable declarants.
Supporting sources
May a lawyer disclose client information to obey an order document?+
Yes. The ethics rule permits disclosure when necessary to comply with other law or a court order document. The lawyer must limit the disclosure to what the order document requires and may first seek legal advice about compliance.
Does a divorce order document automatically revoke will provisions favoring a former spouse?+
Yes. Under the uniform probate code, a divorce or annulment order document revokes revocable dispositions to the former spouse and certain relatives unless the governing instrument expressly provides otherwise. The revocation occurs by operation of law upon entry of the order document.
Supporting sources
When may force be used to reenter land without first obtaining an order document?+
Force may be used when the actor believes the other party has no claim of right and the circumstances create exceptional hardship if entry is postponed until a court order document can be obtained. The belief and urgency must be reasonable under the facts.
Supporting sources
Can a spendthrift provision block enforcement of a support order document?+
No. A spendthrift clause is unenforceable against a beneficiary's child, spouse, or former spouse who holds a judgment or court order document for support or maintenance. The creditor may reach trust distributions to satisfy the order document.
Supporting sources
When is ex parte communication with a juror permitted under an order document?+
Ex parte contact is forbidden during the proceeding unless the lawyer is authorized by law or a court order document. After discharge, additional restrictions apply if the communication is prohibited by law or court order document.
Supporting sources
to invoke review would be unseemly and could precipitate a constitutional confrontation between branches. Requiring a judge to cite a President for contempt simply to invoke appellate…
purchase order
form signed by Mr. Henningsen contained the following paragraph: "The manufacturer warrants each new motor vehicle (including original equipment of parts and accessories which it…
Civil ProcedureAppealability and review · Availability of interlocutory reviewUBEFoundational