In re

“In re” simply means “in the matter of.” It refers to a person, group of persons or a matter concerning numerous parties. It is used to title certain legal actions or cases, often when there are multiple parties or issues or when there are not formally designated adverse parties. For example, if there is a proceeding involving custody of a child, the action often will be entitled “In re [name of child].” Sometimes, if the court wishes to preserve anonymity, the case may be entitled “In re John or Jane Doe.”

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