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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 Texas, initiating a lawsuit involves the plaintiff filing a petition, commonly referred to as a complaint in other jurisdictions, with the appropriate court. This filing is often done electronically through the state's e-filing system. The Texas Rules of Civil Procedure outline the required format and content of the petition, which must provide the defendant with reasonable notice of the claims and the factual basis for those claims. This includes a clear statement of the cause of action and the relief sought. Additionally, the plaintiff is required to pay a filing fee, which varies depending on the court and the type of case. Once the petition is filed and the fee is paid, the plaintiff must serve the defendant with a copy of the petition and a citation, as per the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure, to officially notify them of the lawsuit and their obligation to respond.

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Civil litigation

filing a lawsuit

Legal Services for Less than 99¢ a Day

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Texas State Code

Texas State Code

Civil litigation

filing a lawsuit

Articles