A court will provide a declaratory judgment when there is an actual, justiciable controversy where parties’ rights are affected. The dispute must be concrete and immediate, not hypothetical or contingent on future events, enabling the court to offer a conclusive resolution.
For example: A homeowner seeks a declaratory judgment against a neighbor who has begun preparations to open a business in a residentially-zoned and covenant-protected area—a current and real dispute necessitating legal clarification.