The term 'Ex parte' in legal proceedings means:

• A. Joint hearing
• B. Proceeding with both parties present
• C. On one side only with no notice to the other party
• D. A default judgment

Answer: (C)

Ex parte means a proceeding or order that is heard or issued by the court in the absence of one party or without that party being given notice. This usually happens in urgent situations where immediate action is needed, such as an emergency injunction, so the court can provide temporary relief without waiting to hear from the other side. However, because due process concerns arise when one side is left out, ex parte actions are generally temporary and must be followed by a notice and a full hearing with both sides present as soon as practicable. The other described scenarios involve both sides being present or a judgment entered for failing to appear, which are not what ex parte refers to, and a default judgment is a separate outcome, not the definition of ex parte.