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Complaint for a Civil Case

Federal · United States Courts · Effective December 1, 2016

This form is a Complaint for a Civil Case used to start a lawsuit in the United States District Court. It asks the court to officially record the people involved, explain why the federal court has the power to hear the case, and state the facts and what the person filing wants the court to order.

Open the official PDFfrom United States Courts

Where this fits in a case

Start a case

Stage: Start a case

This form is used by someone representing themselves (pro se) to begin a civil lawsuit in federal court. It requires the filer to provide detailed information about all people and groups being sued and all people suing.

Usually filed by the person starting the case.

Common questions

Who should fill out this form?
This form is for a person representing themselves (pro se) to file a complaint in federal court.
What information must I provide about the people involved?
You must provide the full name, address, and contact information for every person suing (plaintiff) and every person being sued (defendant).
Do I need to explain why the federal court can hear my case?
Yes, you must explain the basis for federal court jurisdiction, such as if it involves federal law or if the people involved are from different states and the amount is over $75,000.

Revision history

No changes recorded since we started tracking this form on October 9, 2026. The current version took effect December 1, 2016.

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