Præcipe or Precipe Definition: Latin: an initiating document presented to a court clerk to be officially issued on behalf of the court or a the covering memo or letter from the lawyer (or plaintiff) which accompanies and formally asks for the writ to be issued by the court officer. Latin: used to refer to the actual writ that would be presented to a court clerk to be officially issued on behalf of the court but now mostly refers to a formal written request or notice to the Court Registry, as a form of covering letter, from the lawyer (or plaintiff) which accompanies and formally asks for the writ to be issued by the court officer, or asks the Registry to take some other filing or procedural action. The praecipe is often excluded from the court file. Some jurisdictions are eliminating legalese and this term is being replaced by a new heading more in keeping with its purpose and role: Requisition. Categories & Topics: Civil Litigation & Evidence Law Dictionary Dictionary of Latin Law Terms Find you are constantly looking up definitions? Try our search provider (works in most modern browsers) If you find an error or omission in Duhaime's Legal Dictionary, or if you have legal term suggestion, we'd love to hear from you!