courtapproved

Court-approved is an adjective used to describe a decision, plan, or arrangement that has received official authorization from a court after review of the relevant facts and law. The approval is typically documented in a court order, judgment, or decree. The term is not the name of a specific doctrine; rather, it indicates that a court has evaluated and sanctioned the item in question.

Common contexts include civil litigation settlements (court-approved settlements), family law (court-approved parenting plans and custody arrangements), guardianship or conservatorship appointments, adoptions, and probate distributions. In administrative or regulatory proceedings, a proposed action may also require court approval.

Process: obtaining court approval usually requires filing a petition or motion, providing notice to interested parties, potentially a hearing, and issuance of a court order. The court assesses legality, fairness, and compliance with applicable statutes and, in family or child-related matters, the best interests of the parties or children involved.

Legal effect and limitations: once approved, the order generally carries binding force and can be enforced as part of the judiciary’s authority. Approvals can sometimes be modified or appealed, depending on the jurisdiction and the nature of the order.

Usage notes: in formal writing, court-approved is typically hyphenated; the single-word form courtapproved is uncommon and may appear in branding or search queries rather than standard legal prose.

See also: court order; consent decree; guardianship; probate court; settlement.