Legal Definitions - clerical error

A clerical error is a mistake made due to a minor error or oversight, usually in writing or copying something on a record. It is not a mistake made due to judicial reasoning or determination. For example, a clerical error can be omitting an appendix from a document, typing an incorrect number, mistranscribing a word, or failing to log a call.

A court can correct a clerical error at any time, even after judgment has been entered. This means that if a mistake is made in a court document, it can be fixed without having to go through the entire legal process again.

For instance, if a court document mistakenly lists the wrong date for a hearing, it can be corrected by the court without having to reschedule the hearing. This is because it is a minor mistake that does not affect the outcome of the case.