View source for Ex parte

'''Ex parte''' means on behalf of only one party (or one side) in court, without notice to any other party. For example, a request for a search warrant is an [[ex parte proceeding]], since the person subject to the search is not notified of the proceeding and is not present at the hearing. 

"Ex parte" is taken from [[Medieval]] [[Latin]], this term is most often used in connection with legal procedure:  an "ex parte proceeding" is one where only one side is present.  These are dangerous proceedings because the other side is not there to present its side, and very one-sided rulings can result.

[[Latin]] terminology exists throughout the law, but legal procedure has fewer Latin terms than substantive areas of the law.  "Ex parte," a procedural term, is a rare exception.
[[Category:Legal Terms]]