What is a clerical error in law?

Asked by: Makenzie McDermott IV  |  Last update: June 28, 2025
Score: 4.6/5 (71 votes)

A clerical error is a small mistake made when writing or copying something down, like typing the wrong number or misspelling a word. It's not a big mistake that affects the outcome of a case. Courts can fix clerical errors even after a judgment has been made.

What constitutes a clerical error?

: an error made in copying or writing.

Do clerical errors hold up in court?

Rule 36 states that "After giving any notice it considers appropriate, the court may at any time correct a clerical error in a judgment, order, or other part of the record, or correct an error in the record arising from oversight or omission." This allows the court to efficiently fix minor errors like typos or math ...

Which one of the following is not a clerical error?

The amount spent on the inauguration ceremony of a new factory building is debited to Factory Building A/c is an error of principal which is not a clerical error.

What is the difference between clerical error and Scrivener's error?

Scrivener's error is a mistake made by someone who is writing or copying something down, like a typo or a misspelling. It is a type of clerical error, which means it is not a mistake made by a judge or based on legal reasoning. Scrivener's errors can be corrected at any time, even after a judgment has been made.

What is a Clerical Error

36 related questions found

What is an example of a clerical error?

The following are examples of “clerical” or “formal” errors: • spelling mistakes • missing words • formatting errors • incorrect references to sections of the Environmental Protection Act 1994.

What happens if there is a typo in a legal document?

The Doctrine of Scrivener's Error is a rule that allows a mistake in a written document to be corrected if there is clear and convincing evidence of a typographical error. This means that if there is a mistake in a document that was not intended, it can be fixed as long as there is proof that it was a mistake.

What does clerical error include?

For example, a clerical error can be omitting an appendix from a document, typing an incorrect number, mistranscribing a word, or failing to log a call. A court can correct a clerical error at any time, even after judgment has been entered.

What is the clerical errors exception?

Clerical Error. After giving any notice it considers appropriate, the court may at any time correct a clerical error in a judgment, order, or other part of the record, or correct an error in the record arising from oversight or omission.

What is the difference between clerical error and typographical error?

"Clerical or typographical error" refers to a mistake committed in the performance of clerical work in writing, copying, transcribing or typing an entry in the civil register that is harmless and innocuous, such as misspelled name or misspelled place of birth or the like, which is visible to the eyes or obvious to the ...

Can a case be dismissed if the name is spelled wrong?

A: No. A minor mistake like that is called a Scrivener's Error. It's blamed on the person typing up the paperwork that someone else directed. If it's pointed out, the case won't get dismissed; it will just get corrected.

What is inadvertent clerical error?

Definition : Clerical error

Error or defect in a document, which results in distorting the author's intention. This may include a typo, a calculation error, an unintentional omission, a factual inaccuracy, an incomplete or erroneous text, or any other careless mistake.

Can you sue a court clerk?

A Court Clerk is not immune from liability in connection with a job duty that is not related to a judicial function. Houston v. West Capital Financial Services, 961 S.W. 2d 687 (1998).

What makes a Court Order invalid?

The judge made an error of law

An “error of law” generally means that the judge in your case applied the wrong rule or “legal standard” to the facts of your case. This can occur if a trial court did not follow either the statute or case law in your state that is supposed to apply in your case's circumstances.

What is considered a legal error?

The definition of error of law refers to any ruling, decision, or process that conflicts with the principles of the law. An error of the law implies the failure to correctly apply the law, leading to a violation of the litigants' rights.

How to correct an error on a legal document?

You can choose to: (i) prepare a Corrective document; (ii) prepare a Scrivener's Affidavit; (iii) prepare a Corrective Recording Affidavit; or (iv) obtain a Court Order. Obtaining a Court Order is the most successful way to correct a recorded document, however, it can be time-consuming and expensive.

What is the rule of 60?

Rule of 60 means that the sum of a Participant's age and Years of Service, equals or exceeds sixty (60) and the Participant is credited with at least 10 Years of Service on the Effective Date.

Which is not a clerical error?

The correct answer is Error of principle. Key PointsIn Accounting, errors can be broadly divided into two groups, which are as follows: Error of principle. Clerical errors.

What is the rule 36?

The provisions of Rule 36 make it clear that admissions function very much as pleadings do. Thus, when a party admits in part and denies in part, his admission is for purposes of the pending action only and may not be used against him in any other proceeding.

What is the clerical error exception?

The clerical errors exception states that police officers cannot be held responsible for a clerical error made by a court worker, such as not deleting an arrest warrant prior to the seizure of evidence from an unrelated crime.

What is an example of an administrative error?

Sample selection error: Selection bias: an administrative error caused by improper selection of a sample during a survey, resulting in accidental bias in the results. Interviewer error: This type of administrative error is caused by failure of an interviewer to correctly pose questions or record responses.

Which errors arise because of mistakes committed by the clerical staff?

Clerical errors and errors of principle are the two types of trial balance limitations. Humans make clerical mistakes. Principle errors occur when an accounting principle is not followed. Trial balance limitations are errors in the financial accounting that cannot be detected by the trial balance sheet.

What voids a legal document?

1. Mistake: One party may claim that they made a mistake in the contract, such as an error in the terms or a misunderstanding of the agreement. 2. Duress or Coercion: If one party was forced or coerced into signing the contract, it can be deemed void.

What makes a legal document invalid?

For a contract to be valid, all parties must have the legal capacity to enter into the agreement. This means they must be of sound mind, of legal age, and not under any form of coercion. If one party lacks this capacity, the contract can be deemed void.

What happens if your name is misspelled on a legal document?

If you can still be identified as the intended named person, then it usually has no effect at all. It would only have a consequence if the misspelling made it ambiguous who the document was actually naming.