What is the significance of "In re" when shown in a cited case?

• A. It signifies there are no adversarial parties
• B. It indicates a case involving a dispute between two parties
• C. It shows the case is an appeal
• D. It means the case is pro se

Answer: (A)

In re is Latin for “in the matter of.” When you see it in a case caption, it signals the court is addressing a particular matter concerning a person or subject (like an estate, guardianship, or another non-adversarial proceeding) rather than a standard civil action brought by one party against another. That surrounding context explains why this caption style is used instead of naming two opposing parties. The other options describe situations (a two-party dispute, an appeal, or pro se status) that aren’t indicated by the phrase “In re.”