What Is a Disposition in Law? Meaning in Criminal, Civil and Juvenile Cases

Last reviewed: October 17, 2026. This article is general information, not legal advice. Terms and record rules differ by state; check with the court clerk or a lawyer about your own case.

If you've seen "disposition" on a background check, a court website or a letter from a lawyer, you're not alone in wondering what it means. It's simply legal shorthand for how a case ended, but the word is used in a few slightly different ways.

Short answer: in law, a disposition is the final outcome of a case or charge. In a criminal case, it's the court's final resolution, such as a conviction, acquittal or dismissal. In civil cases it's the judgment or order that ends the case. In juvenile court, the "disposition" is the stage that works like sentencing. In estate law, the word means a transfer of property.

Criminal case dispositions

These are the most common outcomes you'll see listed:

• Convicted / guilty: by a guilty plea, a no-contest plea, or a guilty verdict at trial. The judgment records the plea or verdict and the sentence.
• Acquitted / not guilty: the jury or judge found the prosecution didn't prove the charge.
• Dismissed: the charge was ended without a verdict, either by the prosecutor or by the judge. It may be with prejudice (final) or without prejudice (can be refiled). See what happens when a case is dismissed.
• Diversion or deferred outcome: the defendant completed a program or conditions, after which the charge is often dismissed. Names and rules vary by state.
• Nolle prosequi / declined: the prosecutor decided not to pursue the charge.

The disposition matters because a guilty finding and a dismissal look very different to employers, landlords and immigration officials, even though both start with the same arrest.

Civil case dispositions

In lawsuits, a case can end in several ways. The federal rules give good examples:

• Judgment after trial, for the plaintiff or the defendant.
• Summary judgment: the court decides without a trial because "there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law" (FRCP 56(a)).
• Judgment as a matter of law: during a jury trial, the judge decides an issue if "a reasonable jury would not have a legally sufficient evidentiary basis" to find for a party (FRCP 50(a)). Older cases call this a directed verdict.
• Default judgment: if a defendant "has failed to plead or otherwise defend," the clerk enters a default, which can lead to a default judgment (FRCP 55). The court may set aside a default for good cause.
• Dismissal or settlement: the parties settle, the plaintiff withdraws, or the court dismisses the claim.

Juvenile "disposition hearings"

In juvenile court the word has a specific meaning. The Nebraska Judicial Branch's guide to the juvenile justice system describes disposition as "Equivalent to the 'Sentencing' in adult court," after the court has decided (adjudicated) that the young person committed the act. Common outcomes include probation, services, placement outside the home, or dismissal. Procedures differ by state, and family and child welfare courts may use the term in their own ways.

Why your disposition matters, and how to fix a missing one

Background checks often pull from arrest records. If the outcome of an arrest was never reported, the record may show the arrest with no result, which can be unfair if the case was dismissed.

The FBI explains that its Identity History Summary (often called a rap sheet) includes the arrest charge and "the disposition of the arrest, if known." If your disposition is missing or wrong, the FBI says you "may submit documentation obtained from the court having control over the arrest or the office prosecuting the offense," or ask the agency that submitted the record (often your state's identification bureau) to update it.

Practical steps:

1. Get a certified copy of the disposition from the clerk of the court that handled the case.
2. Check your state record with your state's criminal records agency and ask how to correct it.
3. Challenge the FBI record if needed, using the court documents.
4. Ask about sealing or expungement. A dismissal doesn't always clear the record automatically. See will dismissed cases hurt job chances.

Sources

• Cornell LII Wex, "disposition": law.cornell.edu
• Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 32: Cornell LII
• Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 50, 55 and 56: Rule 50, Rule 55, Rule 56
• Nebraska Judicial Branch, "Preview of the Juvenile Justice System" (PDF): nebraskajudicial.gov
• FBI, Identity History Summary information handout (hosted by the California Department of Justice, PDF): oag.ca.gov