Issue (legal) facts for kids

An "issue" in law is like a big question that people in a lawsuit (a court case) disagree about. It's something the court needs to figure out.

Sometimes, "issue" can also mean a person's children or grandchildren. It can also refer to a group of financial items offered for sale, but we'll focus on the court meaning here.

An issue of law is a question about how a rule (a law) should be used. It's not about what happened, but about what the law means.

Questions in Court

When people go to court, there are often issues of fact. These are questions about what really happened. For example, was a statement true or false?

Often, the people involved in a case have different ideas about the facts. They present their different stories to the court. They also show evidence to support their side. This evidence helps to prove if their statement is true or false.

The court needs to answer these questions. The list of these questions is what the parties want the court to decide. The court usually has to give its answers by a certain date. It also needs to explain why it made its decisions.

Sometimes, the people in the case, like the Plaintiff (the one who starts the case) or the defendant (the one being sued), don't present their questions clearly. When this happens, the court has to figure out what the main disagreements are. Then, the court decides which facts are most likely true and what legal answers are needed.