petitum

Petitum is a Latin noun meaning “a thing sought” and is used in legal contexts to denote the relief or remedy requested in a pleading. It derives from the verb petere, “to seek,” and the supine form petitum. In English-language legal writing, the term is often used to refer to the portion of a complaint or petition that specifies what the party asks the court to grant.

In civil procedure, a complaint typically contains two essential elements: the grounds or cause of action (the facts and legal basis) and the petitum (the relief sought). The petitum is sometimes described as the “prayer for relief” and, in jurisdictions that retain Latin terminology, is labeled as such or as the petitum itself. Modern practice often renders this as the explicit request for relief in plain English, such as monetary damages, injunctions, or declaratory relief.

Legal requirements regarding the petitum vary by jurisdiction but generally include the need for clarity and specificity. The relief requested should be within the scope of the pleaded facts and applicable law; requests that exceed what is pleaded, are unlawful, or are contradictory may be rejected or require amendment. Some systems allow alternative or cumulative relief, while others require a clearly defined, singular remedy.

Examples of petitum include: damages in a specified amount, an injunction to stop or compel certain conduct, specific performance of a contract, or a declaration of rights. While largely a historical or specialized term, petitum remains in use in some legal texts and discussions of Roman, civil, or continental procedure.

See also: petition, prayer for relief, remedy, cause of action.