Legal Definitions - on file

On file

When a document or record has been officially submitted to the court or judge, it is considered "on file."

1. The defendant's plea agreement is on file with the court.

2. The plaintiff's motion for summary judgment is on file with the judge.

These examples illustrate how a document or record becomes "on file" once it has been submitted to the appropriate authority. In the first example, the defendant's plea agreement has been officially filed with the court, meaning it is now part of the court's records. In the second example, the plaintiff's motion for summary judgment has been submitted to the judge, and is now considered "on file" with the judge's office.