Meaning & use
chancery court
Last updated
Meanings
nouncountablelegallaw
A court that decides cases based on fairness and equity rather than only on strict legal rules.
Grammar: Countable; often used with the definite article when referring to a particular court, e.g. 'the chancery court'.
Patterns
- the chancery court
- in chancery court
- go to chancery court
The dispute over the family trust was heard in chancery court.
She filed a petition in chancery court to settle the estate.
The chancery court has the power to order specific performance.
nouncountablelegallaw
A division of a court system that handles equity matters, such as trusts, estates, and injunctions.
Grammar: Countable; can be used in the plural: chancery courts.
Patterns
- chancery courts
- the chancery court system
In some states, chancery courts handle only equity cases.
The chancery court and the law court were historically separate.
Delaware's chancery court is well known for business disputes.
Word forms
| plural | chancery courts |
|---|
Common combinations
- file in chancery court
- They filed the lawsuit in chancery court.
- the chancery court ruled
- The chancery court ruled in favor of the buyer.
- chancery court judge
- A chancery court judge issued the injunction.
- go to chancery court
- The heirs decided to go to chancery court to resolve the will.
Synonyms and how they differ
- court of equity
- A more general term for a court that applies equity principles; chancery court is the specific name used in some US states and in England.
- equity court
- Similar meaning, but less common and not the official name in most places.
Word family
- chancery noun
- The office or department that keeps official records, or the equity division of a court.
- chancellor noun
- A judge in a chancery court, especially in Delaware.
Commonly confused: chancery court or chancellery?
chancery court vs chancellery
Chancellery means the office or staff of a chancellor or an embassy; chancery court is a type of court.
Practice
Which sentence correctly uses 'chancery court'?
Choose one answer.
A chancery court deals with equity, so fairness is central. The other options describe other courts or functions.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “chancery court”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.