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Civil Complaints. The complaint is the document that you file with the magisterial district court to begin your civil action against a person or business. You are listed as the plaintiff and the person you are suing is the defendant.

Pennsylvania makes it relatively simple for individuals to file a civil lawsuit through magisterial district courts or the municipal court, if the case is a small claims case. If the case is for an amount over $12,000, you must file in the court of common pleas, and legal counsel is a good idea.

How Much is the Filing Fee? To start the lawsuit, a filing fee of $50. to $110. is common. The exact amount depends on the amount for which you sue. If you are successful, the party you sue will be required to reimburse you for the costs you pay to file the suit.

The statute of limitations for personal injury claims in Pennsylvania is two years. That means that if a lawsuit is to be filed, it must be done within two years of the date the injury occurred. However, Pennsylvania does have a discovery rule.

The complaint is the document that you file with the magisterial district court to begin your civil action against a person or business. ... You will need to include on the form the correct name and address of all defendants so they may be properly given notice that a civil action has been filed against them.

Complete the form. Be sure to print neatly. ... File the complaint. You should make several copies of your complaint and take them all to the court clerk. ... Pay the filing fee. You must pay a fee to file a lawsuit. ... Serve the defendant.

How Much is the Filing Fee? To start the lawsuit, a filing fee of $50. to $110. is common. The exact amount depends on the amount for which you sue. If you are successful, the party you sue will be required to reimburse you for the costs you pay to file the suit.

Small claims courts in Pennsylvania are called Magisterial District Courts (formerly Justices of the Peace). You do not need a lawyer to represent you and the amounts claimed cannot exceed $12,000. A filing fee is required ranging in an amount somewhere from $40 to $80 depending on the amount in dispute.

A civil complaint is a legal document that initiates a lawsuit and informs the person being sued of the claims against them. It lays out the facts and reasons that support the plaintiff's claim against the defendant. It also states the compensation or relief sought by the plaintiff and why they are entitled to it.

A civil complaint initiates a civil lawsuit by setting forth for the court a claim for relief from damages caused, or wrongful conduct engaged in, by the defendant. ... The complaint also serves as notice to the defendant that legal action is underway.

Before a person or a company to whom you owe money can win a judgment against you, they must first file a lawsuit in court. If you ignore the lawsuit, the court will enter an automatic judgment against you, known as a default judgment. Of course, even if you file an answer to the lawsuit, you can still lose the case.

A summons is a written notice, which usually is accompanied by the complaint, notifying the defendant and the court that the complaint has been served on all relevant parties and listing the date of the first court appearance for the lawsuit.

Go to the court clerk in the county where you reside, and check to see if there is a case filed against you. If it is past the Statute of Limitations, and no case has been filed, then you are home free.

As to the cost of taking someone to small claims court, you'll generally pay a filing fee of less than $100 that is recoverable if you win. Meanwhile, each state will cap the amount you are allowed to sue for. It typically ranges anywhere from $2,000 to $10,000, according to LegalZoom.

Unfortunately, there is no good answer if someone has little income and few assets, they are effectively judgment proof and even if you win against them in court, you effectively lose: you spent the time and money to sue and receive nothing in return. ... First, you don't have to sue the person immediately.