inre

In re is a Latin legal phrase meaning “in the matter of,” used in the caption or title of a court proceeding to indicate the subject of the case rather than the parties involved. It signals that the action concerns a particular matter, such as a petition, probate, bankruptcy, or administrative issue.

Etymology and meaning: The phrase combines in, a Latin preposition meaning “in,” with re, the ablative form of res, meaning “thing” or “matter.” In English-language legal usage, it is typically read as “in re” and pronounced either “in ray” or “in ree,” depending on regional preference.

Usage in law: In re appears at the head of court documents, for example “In re Estate of Johnson,” “In re Chapter 11 Proceedings of Acme Corp.” The formulation emphasizes the matter under consideration rather than a dispute between named parties. It is widely used in United States federal and state courts and is also found in other common-law jurisdictions for administrative, regulatory, and private-law proceedings.

Distinctions from related terms: In re is distinct from in rem, which means against a thing rather than a person and is used in contexts like property disputes or maritime law. It also differs from in personam, which targets a specific person or entity. Infra, another Latin term, means “below” and is used to refer to content presented later in the document. The choice among these terms reflects the nature of the proceeding or the party’s interest.

Examples and scope: The matter designated by in re can involve estates, bankruptcy, mergers, regulatory actions, or guardianship matters. It is not a formal title of a person but a descriptor indicating the proceeding concerns the specified matter.

See also: Latin phrases used in law; in rem; in personam; infra.