What does 'leave' refer to in legal terms?

In legal terms, 'leave' typically refers to permission granted by a court or judge to a party to take a particular action that may not otherwise be permitted. This can include various situations, such as granting permission to file an appeal after the usual timeframe has passed or allowing a party to submit certain evidence. The requirement of obtaining leave ensures that the court maintains control over its proceedings and can prevent frivolous or untimely motions that could hinder the judicial process.

In contrast, a type of court ruling involves decisions made by judges or courts on legal matters but does not encompass the concept of seeking permission. A legal document could pertain to a variety of formal written instruments in the legal context, but it does not specifically define the act of requesting court permission. The process of filing an application refers more generally to initiating legal proceedings or seeking relief but does not inherently imply the necessity of obtaining permission from the court. Thus, the definition of 'leave' as court permission is the most accurate interpretation in legal contexts.