Dkt

Dkt is a common abbreviation for docket, a term used in legal contexts to refer to the official record of a court case and its filings. The docket tracks all procedural steps in a case, including complaints, motions, orders, hearings, and other actions. While most closely associated with United States courts, the use of a docket system is widespread in many jurisdictions to organize and publicize case activity.

In practice, each filing in a case is assigned a docket number and typically cited with a prefix such as "Dkt." followed by the entry number, for example "Dkt. 5." Docket entries are time-stamped, linked to the parties and issues involved, and categorized by the type of activity (e.g., complaint, motion, order). This system helps counsel and parties monitor deadlines, track the procedural posture of a case, and locate specific documents within the court’s records.

Access to dockets is usually provided through court portals or nationwide systems like PACER in the United States. Public docket summaries enable quick overviews of a case’s progression without reviewing every filing, while deeper research may require viewing the actual documents linked to each docket entry.

Other uses of the acronym DKT exist in different contexts, such as DKT International, a nonprofit organization focused on family planning; these uses are unrelated to the legal concept of a docket. In general writing, "dkt" may appear as shorthand for docket, but its meaning is determined by context.