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Civil litigation

filing a lawsuit

Filing a lawsuit (often called a plaintiff’s petition or complaint) generally requires the plaintiff to file a document (often electronically) in the general form required by the rules of procedure in the applicable state or federal court system, and to pay a filing fee. The petition or complaint must give the defendant (person or entity being sued) reasonable notice of the legal claims asserted and the factual basis for those claims.

In Florida, initiating a lawsuit involves the plaintiff filing a petition or complaint with the appropriate court. This document must adhere to the Florida Rules of Civil Procedure and can often be filed electronically through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal. The complaint should clearly state the legal claims against the defendant and the factual basis for these claims, providing the defendant with reasonable notice. Additionally, the plaintiff is required to pay a filing fee, which varies depending on the type of case and the court. After filing, the plaintiff must serve the complaint and a summons to the defendant, typically done by a process server, to officially notify them of the lawsuit. The defendant then has a specific period to respond to the complaint, which is usually 20 days in Florida.

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Civil litigation

filing a lawsuit

Individual & Family Legal Plan

Articles

Florida State Code

Florida State Code

Civil litigation

filing a lawsuit

Articles