Excusable Neglect Legal Meaning and Definition

Here is a simplified definition of the legal term Excusable Neglect.

Excusable Neglect (noun):

This term describes a valid reason that justifies or excuses a party's or their attorney's failure to fulfill a legal obligation on time, such as filing a response to a lawsuit. Typical reasons for excusable neglect could include illness, a lawyer's busy schedule, or understandable errors made by a legal team's staff. Courts may accept these reasons and consequently set aside a default judgment made because the deadline wasn't met. Nevertheless, the courts tend to be less forgiving if the neglect was due to the defendant's own carelessness. The defendant is also required to demonstrate that they have a valid defense in addition to their excusable neglect claim.