Most court documents look intimidating because of formatting, not substance. Once you know what to look for, you can extract the important parts of a lawsuit, motion, or order in under five minutes.
The caption (top of every document)
The caption tells you the court (which county/state/federal district), the parties ("Plaintiff" is who filed, "Defendant" is who got sued), and the case number. Write the case number down — you'll need it for every future filing.
Common document types
- Complaint: The lawsuit itself. Lists the claims ("counts") and what the plaintiff wants.
- Summons: The official notice that you've been sued and must respond by a deadline (usually 20–30 days).
- Answer: The defendant's written response to a complaint.
- Motion: A request for the judge to do something (dismiss the case, compel evidence, rule before trial).
- Order: The judge's decision on a motion.
- Subpoena: A command to appear, testify, or produce documents.
- Discovery (interrogatories, requests for production, depositions): Both sides exchange information.
- Judgment: The final decision in the case.
The most important thing: the deadline
Almost every court document has a deadline. Miss it and you can lose by default — regardless of the merits. If you've been served with a summons, write the response deadline on your calendar in two places, and find an attorney before it passes.
The counts
A complaint is broken into numbered "counts" (Count I: Negligence; Count II: Breach of Contract). Each count is a separate legal theory. You can win some and lose others. The "prayer for relief" at the end tells you what they're asking for — money, injunction, declaratory judgment.
If you've been served
Don't ignore it. Don't talk to the other side. Don't sign anything. Find an attorney — most offer free consults. We can match you with one in your state.