What is a civil complaint?

A civil complaint is a document filed with a court of law to initiate a civil lawsuit. It is a legal document that formally alleges that a party has suffered some kind of injury or harm as a result of another party’s actions or failure to act. A civil complaint details the facts and circumstances that led to the lawsuit, and it outlines which laws are at issue and how each party is affected. In California, a civil complaint is prepared by an attorney or by the plaintiff themselves. The plaintiff must list the facts of what happened, the legal claim, and what damages or relief they are seeking. This is known as the “causes of action” portion of the document. The civil complaint must outline all the relevant facts supporting the cause of action and the evidence that will be necessary to prove the case. Once the documents have been filed in the court, they must be “served” on the other party. This means that the person or party being sued must be officially notified of the lawsuit. The civil complaint will then be answered to by the defendant, which is a document that outlines their denial or defense of the allegations. The parties will then go through the legal process, often involving negotiations and court hearings, to resolve the case.

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What is a civil complaint?

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