Stipulation

Stipulation

Stipulations are agreements to certain facts or outcomes between parties in a legal proceeding.  

Many lawsuits may begin with one party litigating against another party and neither party can agree to anything (hence, why one is suing the other).  While a case proceeds towards a final trial, there may be motions and hearings that take place.  Or even at a trial, certain evidence may be offered by one party or another.  

Parties might find that it is better to agree with the opposing side and their attorney than to argue about an outcome.  For example, parties might both agree that it makes sense to reschedule a certain evidentiary hearing.  Or another example, the parties might stipulate to certain evidence being offered and accepted to the Court or jury.  The parties therefore stipulate to these facts and they do so by simply telling the judge orally.  Sometimes stipulations are filed as Motions.  An example might be a "Motion to Continue" a certain hearing, and in the Motion, the parties have stipulated when the hearing will be reschedule to.  The parties have stipulated to the outcome.

Stipulations are useful legal tools to get rid of unneeded disputes on small matters as well as bringing finality on many big matters.

If you are interested in having an attorney at Peterson Legal Services review your legal matters or you have been asked to sign a written stipulation, don't hesitate to give our office a call or visit our "Contact Us" page.