{"id":368853,"date":"2016-04-04T10:47:05","date_gmt":"2016-04-04T15:47:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/litigation\/filing-a-lawsuit.html"},"modified":"2025-06-25T16:30:55","modified_gmt":"2025-06-25T21:30:55","slug":"filing-a-lawsuit","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/litigation\/filing-a-lawsuit.html","title":{"rendered":"Filing a Lawsuit"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n \n Filing a Lawsuit\n <\/h1>\n \n You can sue someone by filing a lawsuit in your local civil court.\n <\/p>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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\n By Susan Buckner, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Melissa Bender, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

The best-known civil lawsuits involve personal injury cases following car accidents or slip-and-fall injuries. You may have taken a case to small claims court. But there are many other reasons for filing cases in civil court.
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This article reviews the types of lawsuits you can file in civil court and the federal and state laws involved. You can file many civil cases yourself, but you may need an attorney. Finding an attorney is often part of the process.<\/p>\r\n\n\n \n \n \n \n How To Sue\n \n <\/i>\n <\/span>\n <\/button>\n <\/h2>\n \n