Starting a Lawsuit

How To: Start a Lawsuit
Statutes:	Chapter 1A - Article 3 (Pleadings) Rule 4 (Service of Process).
Steps	(1) Prepare a stack of legal documents (2) File the documents with the court and serve them on your spouse (3) Respond to any similar documents filed by your spouse
Takeaway	A lawsuit involves a large number of legal documents, rules, and processes that vary depending on which county courthouse you're in and your circumstances.

Prepare the Documents

The first step is to prepare a stack of legal documents that need to be filed with the court. These include:

• A Domestic Civil Action Cover Sheet (Form AOC-CV-750) - This tells the court what you're filing.
• A Complaint: This is where you describe your legal claims and the facts supporting each one.
• A Verification: This is a signed/notarized document where you promise everything in the Complaint is true.
• A Summons (Form AOC-CV-100): This serves as a notice to your spouse that they have 30 days to respond.
• Servicemembers Civil Relief Act Declaration (Form AOC-G-250)

Contact an Attorney

This wiki is provided by North Carolina divorce lawyer David King and his firm King @ Law. You can learn more about King @ Law at www.kinglawnc.com. If you are looking to hire an attorney, have questions, or would like to contribute to this wiki, you can contact attorney King using any of the following methods:

• Schedule a Consultation
• Start a Facebook Chat
• Email: david@kinglawnc.com
• Voicemail: 919 706 5322