What is the difference between a summons and a complaint?

When dealing with a court case in Pennsylvania, two important documents are a summons and a complaint. These documents are similar in that they are both legal documents given to one or both parties involved in a dispute; however, they also have distinct differences. A summons is a type of court order that informs someone that they are involved in a legal dispute, and must appear in court. The summons will also explain how the dispute came to be, and what rights the receiving party has. The summons is usually issued by the court or through a lawyer. A complaint is a document that is filed with the court to begin the legal proceeding. It will explain the legal issue and the rights of the filing party, and will also outline what kind of legal remedy the party wants. The complaint must be responded to by the other involved party, or else a default judgment may be issued. These two documents are key parts of any court case in Pennsylvania. A summons will inform a party of a dispute and the complaint will then define the nature of the dispute and the proposed solution. The main difference between the two documents is that a summons is an order to appear in court and a complaint is the document that outlines the legal issue and the filing party’s expectations.

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