how to bring a lawsuit without a lawyer

How do you file a lawsuit without an attorney?

Sometimes you can obtain forms for your lawsuit from either the clerk of court or local law libraries, but not always. Similarly, legal aid groups may be able to help you complete your paperwork, evaluate your claims, and give you advice on what to file, where, and how much your filing fees will be.

Can I sue someone without having a lawyer?

Filing a Lawsuit Without an Attorney. One thing that can be difficult for many novices when it comes to trying to file (or bring) a lawsuit without an attorney is figuring out what the legal wrong is that forms the basis for a solid lawsuit.

How to sue creditors and win without a lawyer?

Is it OK to sue someone without a lawyer?

What happens if you ignore a summons?

If you ignore the summons, the court will enter a default judgment against you and you will be legally obligated to pay for all the damages awarded! This means that the plaintiff will most likely be able to seize your bank accounts, garnish your wages, and potentially foreclose on your home.

How to serve a summons?

Rules regarding proper service of legal documents vary by state, but the most common way to serve a summons and complaint is to have them personally delivered by an adult who is a resident of the state where the complaint is filed.

What is a summons in court?

A summons is a separate document that gives the defendant official notice that he is being required to appear and answer the allegations made by the plaintiff. In most states, a person representing themselves will need to have the summons issued by the court clerk.

What is affirmative defense?

An affirmative defense is a defense that does not depend on the veracity of the plaintiff’s allegations.

What is a counterclaim in a civil case?

A counterclaim is a civil claim arising from the same set of circumstances. In breach of contract cases, for example, it is common for the defendant to allege that it was the plaintiff who, in fact, breached the contract.

Can you sue the city for a sidewalk?

For example, if you trip on the sidewalk, you cannot necessarily sue the city for your damages. You will need to allege that the city (or someone else) was negligent in some manner. Perhaps the sidewalk was in a poor state of disrepair.

How to file a lawsuit?

To file a lawsuit, you have to prepare the opening documents. These are called the summons and the complaint or the petition. The court usually provides fill-in-the-blank forms that you can, and sometimes must, use. In the complaint, you name yourself as the person bringing the suit – the plaintiff – and identify the people or entities you are suing, called the defendants. You also must include facts that give a general description of the circumstances and the types of injuries or damages you suffered. The document called the "summons" tells the defendants how long they have to respond to the complaint by filing their own documents. In some jurisdictions, you complete the summons yourself; in others, the court generates the summons after you file the complaint.

What is proof of service in court?

The person serving the papers signs a "proof of service" document, stating when and how she served the documents. File the summons and complaint with the court either before service or ...

What is the purpose of summons?

The document called the "summons" tells the defendants how long they have to respond to the complaint by filing their own documents.

What does it mean to complain about someone?

A complaint must state a " cause of action " against the defendant. This means that you have to do something more than merely complain about someone's actions. The facts you describe must constitute a legal claim over which you can sue.

Can a company represent itself in court?

If you want to file a lawsuit on behalf of your business and not yourself personally, you'll have to get an attorney. Most states don't allow corporate entities to represent themselves in court.

Drafting The Complaint

• You start a lawsuit by filing a complaint. In some circumstances, you file a petition or a motion. The court has several complaint forms that you may use in drafting your complaint. The forms are available onlineand at the Pro Se Intake Unit. You may also write your own complaint without using a court form. All complaints must be in English on 8-1/2” x 11” paper and include: 1. a capt…

See more on nysd.uscourts.gov

Filing and Serving The Complaint

Keeping Your Address Updated