BILL IN EQUITY. The original process instituting an action or proceeding in a court of chancery, corresponding to a dee/a•ation in an action at law, a libel in admiralty courts, or (in England) an allegation in a spiritual court. It is a complaint in writing addressed to the chan cellor, giving the names of the parties to the suit, a statement of the matters on whieb the complainant relies, the allegations which he makes, an assort that the matters complained of are contrary to equity, and a prayer for re lief. The former practice in the English Court I If Chancery was to address the petition to the lord ehaneellor. lord keeper, or lord commis sioners for the custody of the great seal. unless the seal was in the Ning's hands. or the chan cellor was the petitioner. when it was addressed to the himself—for. according to the the ory of chancery, the plea was made to the King's conscience. Where the Crown was the suitor, complaint was by information (q.v.). But by the Supreme Court Judicature Act of 1874 all suits now begin by writ. Formerly the several
jurisdictions of the United States followed the Ild chancery pleadings, but in New York and other States jell have adopted codes of civil pnwedure the same pleadings are now estab for as for common-law actions. Instca•I of the elaborate hill. the first pleading is now a complaint or stating the facts "constituting the cause of action," with demand for judgment. In the non•eotde States the old bill is retained, though generally with statutory mod i flea t ions .
A bill may be either original. as when it ini tiates an action, or not original, as when it sup plements an original hill or is brought by a third party intervening in the suit. ]:ills are char a•terized according to the nature of the remedv sought, as "bill of peace," "bill of iuterpleader;" "bill of discovery." etc. Sec CHANCERY; EQCITY1 PROCEDURE.