What is a civil complaint?

A civil complaint is a document filed with a court that initiates a civil law lawsuit. It is sometimes referred to as a “petition” or “action”. In Texas, a civil complaint must generally be verified and contains the names of the parties involved, a statement of facts, the relief demanded by the plaintiff and any applicable legal authority to support the complaint. The complaint is used to inform the defendant of the nature of the case and to allow the court to decide whether the person filing the complaint has a legal basis for their claims. A complaint must include sufficient facts to allow the court to make an initial determination that the plaintiff has standing to bring a civil claim and to allow the court to make a preliminary ruling on the merits of the complaint. In any civil lawsuit, the plaintiff must prove their claim by a preponderance of the evidence. The complaint is used to serve as the plaintiff’s initial statement of the claim and the facts that support it, and it serves as the basis for the court’s determination of whether the plaintiff has a valid claim. If the court finds that the plaintiff has a valid claim, the defendant will be required to provide a response to the complaint, known as an answer.

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