A writ of assistance is the legal term for a court's written instructions to an officer of the law, such as an order to evict a tenant from their home. A writ of assistance is an order directing that a party convey, deliver, or turn over a deed, document, or right of ownership.This pamphlet is designed to inform you of the basic steps in an Eviction (Summary Process) action. It is not a substitute for the advice of an attorney. Meanwhile in the colonies, "writs of assistance" authorized officials to track down and conduct warrantless searches for untaxed items. Find definitions for court-related terms and phrases here, organized in alphabetical and numerical order. Franklin now asserts that the Court's Order denying his § 2255 petition wrongly decided those claims against him. Background. About 10 weeks after the U.S. entered World War II, President Franklin D. Roosevelt on February 19, 1942 signed Executive Order 9066. Certain actions are not considered legally complete or official until recorded in the journal. 2. Words and Phrases For Civil Cases.