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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 Louisiana, initiating a lawsuit involves filing a petition, commonly referred to as a complaint in other jurisdictions, with the appropriate court. The plaintiff must adhere to the Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure, which dictates the required form and content of the petition. This document must provide the defendant with sufficient notice of the legal claims and the factual basis for those claims. The petition is typically filed electronically through the court's filing system. Along with the petition, the plaintiff is required to pay a filing fee, the amount of which varies depending on the court and the type of case. After filing, the plaintiff must also ensure that the defendant is properly served with the lawsuit, which provides the official legal notice necessary for the court to have jurisdiction over the defendant.

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Civil litigation

filing a lawsuit

Legal Services for Less than 99¢ a Day

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Louisiana State Code

Louisiana State Code

Civil litigation

filing a lawsuit

Legal articles related to this topic