{"id":368969,"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\/starting-the-case-initial-court-papers.html"},"modified":"2024-04-11T14:29:23","modified_gmt":"2024-04-11T19:29:23","slug":"starting-the-case-initial-court-papers","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/litigation\/filing-a-lawsuit\/starting-the-case-initial-court-papers.html","title":{"rendered":"Initial Court Documents in Civil Lawsuits"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Initial Court Documents in Civil Lawsuits<\/h1>\n
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\n By Lyle Therese A. Hilotin-Lee, 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

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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 initial legal papers filed in court when starting a civil case are called "pleadings." The following information offers insight into the court documents that could play a role in your civil lawsuit.<\/p>\r\n

Filing a Complaint<\/h2>\r\n

The first document filed in a lawsuit is usually a pleading called a complaint<\/a> or a petition. It’s essential in various types of cases. The complaint is a detailed document laying the groundwork for a civil action.<\/p>\r\n

The purpose of the complaint is to provide the defendant with notice of the factual and legal grounds for the plaintiff’s claims when suing. Generally, the facts outlined in the complaint are based on the plaintiff’s knowledge. Sometimes, the plaintiff will use the phrase "upon information and belief" before stating some facts. This means that the plaintiff has heard about those facts from someone else. Or the plaintiff has formed the belief that the events described in the paragraph happened as described. A complaint contains the following information, among others:<\/p>\r\n