Which document initiates a civil action and outlines the claim?

• A. Summons
• B. Answer
• C. Petition
• D. Complaint

Answer: (C)

The key idea is identifying the pleading that starts the lawsuit and sets out what is being claimed. In this context, the document filed to begin the civil action and to lay out the grounds of the claim is the petition. It starts the case in court and explains the facts giving rise to the action, the legal basis for relief, the parties involved, and the relief sought. The petition is served on the defendant, typically with a summons, to notify them of the action and require a response.

A summons is just the notice that tells the defendant they’re being sued. The answer is the defendant’s formal response to the allegations. A complaint is the term used in many systems for the initial pleading that states the claim, but in this item’s framework the initiating document that outlines the claim is the petition.