Legal Definitions - civil

Definition: In law, "civil" refers to conflicts between private individuals or entities, as opposed to criminal cases where the government punishes someone for breaking the law. For example, a civil case could involve a dispute over a contract or a tort (a wrongful act that causes harm to someone). Some common uses of the term "civil" in law include:

• Civil code: The part of federal or state laws that governs legal relationships between individuals, such as contracts.
• Civil liability: Legal obligations that arise from an individual's dealings with others, but are not criminal.
• Civil remedies: Relief available to a plaintiff in a civil case, such as money damages or injunctions.
• Civil rights: Enforceable rights enjoyed by citizens, such as the right to vote or the right to equal treatment under the law.
• Civil procedure: The rules a court follows when conducting a civil case from start to finish.
• Civil forfeiture: The seizure of property by the government from someone suspected of a crime.

For example, if two people have a disagreement over a contract, they might file a civil lawsuit to resolve the issue. The court would follow civil procedure rules to conduct the case, and if one person is found to have breached the contract, they may be ordered to pay civil damages to the other person. This is an example of civil liability and civil remedies.