Legal Definitions - Petition

Definition: A petition is a written request made to a court or other official body asking for some kind of legal action to be taken.

Example 1: A group of citizens may file a petition with their local government to request a change in a law or policy.

Example 2: A person who has been wrongfully terminated from their job may file a petition with a court to seek compensation for their losses.

Both examples illustrate how a petition is a formal, written request made to a legal authority. In the first example, citizens are asking for a change in a law or policy, while in the second example, an individual is seeking legal action to address a specific issue. Petitions can be used in a variety of legal contexts, from seeking compensation for damages to advocating for changes in laws or policies.