JustLegal education · Confirm local requirements
Understand the document
A complaint is the very first legal document filed in a civil case. It tells the court WHO you are suing, WHY you are suing them, and WHAT you want the court to do about it. Filing a complaint officially begins the lawsuit.
When you file a complaint, you become the "plaintiff" — the person bringing the case. The person or entity you're suing becomes the "defendant."
The complaint must be filed in the correct court (jurisdiction and venue), and you must "serve" (deliver) a copy to the defendant along with a summons.
After filing, the defendant typically has 20-30 days to file a response (called an "answer"). If they don't respond, you may be able to get a "default judgment."
When this document may be useful
- Someone has caused you harm (physical, emotional, financial) and you want compensation
- A landlord has illegally evicted you or violated your lease
- Your civil rights have been violated by a person or organization
- You need to enforce a contract that someone has broken
- You need a court order to stop someone from doing something (injunctive relief)
What to work through
1. Eligibility Check
Quick questions to confirm you're using the right document type
2. Jurisdiction & Venue
Determine which court has authority over your case
3. Case Information
Enter court details, parties, and your contact info
4. Claim Details
Describe what happened: facts, legal claims, relief sought
5. Drafting
The builder generates your complaint — review and edit every section
6. Review & File
Final checklist, download as PDF or Word, print for filing
Before using this document
- A complaint is NOT a criminal charge — you cannot criminally prosecute someone with a civil complaint
- It is NOT a motion — motions are filed DURING an existing case, complaints START a case
- It is NOT a letter of complaint — this is a formal legal document with specific formatting and legal requirements
- It does NOT guarantee you will win — it simply begins the legal process
More preparation notes
- Check your state's statute of limitations — if you wait too long, you lose the right to sue forever.
- Be specific about dates, amounts, and what happened. Vague complaints get dismissed.
- You can usually file for fee waivers if you can't afford filing fees — use our Fee Waiver Generator.
Procedures and deadlines depend on the court, rules and circumstances. Confirm requirements with the relevant official source.
Put this into practice.
Use what is helpful now. You can return to this guide whenever you need it.
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