appearance

The attendance by a party to legal proceedings in court either personally or by a legal representative.

A failure of a party to enter an appearance during the course of civil litigation may lead to the court making an order in the absence of a party. Moreover, failure to comply with a court order may lead to the court making an 'unless order'. Such orders state that there will be consequences, invariably undesirable, to the party  failing to comply with the order, such as the striking out of a defence. These consequences in turn lead to further undesirable consequences for the litigant, such an judgment and orders for payment of costs.

Usage: The defendant entered an appearance in the proceedings and avoided sanction by court order.

Related Words: legal proceedings; litigation; claim form; claimant; defendant; particulars of claim; defence: litigation; acknowledgement of service; civil litigation; locus standi.