In Paper Law and Legal Definition
Historically, the term “in paper” was used in relation of a proceeding that was within the jurisdiction of the trial court, that is, before the record was prepared for an appeal. Earlier, the petitioner were perplexed by writs of error brought upon very slight and minor mistakes such as spelling mistakes and other mistakes of the clerks, all which might be amended at the common law, while all the proceedings were in paper, because then they were considered pending, and therefore under the control of the courts.
