(A) Another name for a plaintiff in certain types of cases and used in certain types of lawsuits, for example, divorce and family law cases in many states. May also be used in Landlord-Tenant actions where the landlord petitions the court for relief from a tenant who has stayed beyond his or her lease term. (B) Immigration Law: The request made by a sponsoring company or person that a foreign non-immigrant person be permitted to enter the United States. Virtually all green cards and some nonimmigrant visas require a petitioner.
Law Dictionary – Alternative Legal Definition
One who presents a petition to a court officer, or legislative body. In legal proceedings begun by petition, the person against whom action or relief is prayed, or who opposes the prayer of the petition is called the “respondent.”