Complaint

What complaint means

In short, complaint definition is a term you will meet in court papers, rules and legal research. The definition above gives its usual meaning in American civil practice. However, the exact meaning can depend on the rule, statute or court decision that uses it. So it helps to read the term in context.

Where complaint definition comes up

For example, the term appears in these procedures:

• Complaint (Fed. R. Civ. P. 3, 8(a)): the pleading that starts a civil action. Under Rule 3, a civil action is commenced by filing a complaint with the court.

How to research the term

First, read the term where it actually appears. A rule, statute or court decision may define it for its own purposes. Next, check whether your court has a local rule that uses complaint definition in a special way. Then look at recent decisions from courts in your jurisdiction. They show how judges apply the term today. Also, remember that state law can differ from federal law. For that reason, use our state procedures guide to find your state’s rules. Finally, confirm every source is current before you rely on it.

You can read the official rule text online for free.

Related legal terms

• Plaintiff: the person or entity that starts a civil lawsuit by filing a complaint.
• Pleading: a formal written statement of a party's claims or defenses. Under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 7(a), the pleadings are the complaint, the answer, and certain other listed documents. Motions are not pleadings.
• Caption: the heading of a court document identifying the court, the parties, the case number and the document title.
• Legal name: the name that identifies a person for legal purposes. For an individual, it is generally the name recorded at birth unless lawfully changed, for example by marriage or court order. For a business entity, it is the name in its formation documents.

Why precise terms matter

Courts read legal terms closely. As a result, knowing the exact meaning of a word helps you follow orders, rules and filings. Each glossary entry on Lawtopolis is short on purpose and links to the pages where the term is used.