Court Reporter Practice Exam

What does "et seq." mean when used in legal documents?

1. And others

2. In summary

3. And the following

4. For example

The correct answer is: And the following

The term "et seq." is an abbreviation of the Latin phrase "et sequentes," which translates to "and the following." In legal documents, it is used to refer to a section or a list that includes the specified item and everything that follows it in the text. This is particularly useful when citing laws, statutes, or regulations, as it allows the author to indicate not only the specific section being referenced but also the subsequent sections that are related to that initial point. This usage streamlines legal writing by avoiding the need to enumerate each section when referring to a series of related items, making the document more concise while still providing clarity about the references made. Recognizing "et seq." is important for practitioners, as it helps them accurately interpret legal texts and understand the scope of the information being cited.