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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 North Carolina, initiating a lawsuit involves the plaintiff filing a complaint with the appropriate court. The complaint must adhere to the North Carolina Rules of Civil Procedure, which dictate the required format and content. The plaintiff must also pay a filing fee, which varies depending on the court and the type of case. The complaint should provide the defendant with reasonable notice of the claims and the factual basis for those claims, allowing the defendant to understand the nature of the lawsuit and to prepare a defense. The complaint is typically filed electronically through the North Carolina Court System's electronic filing system. Once filed, the plaintiff must serve the complaint and a summons on the defendant, which informs the defendant of the lawsuit and the requirement to respond within a specified time frame, usually 30 days.

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Civil litigation

filing a lawsuit

Individual & Family Legal Plan

Articles

North-Carolina State Code

Civil litigation

filing a lawsuit

North-Carolina State Code

Articles