Certified Professional in Health Care Risk Management (CPHRM) 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

The legal term that refers to the initial filing with a court to initiate a lawsuit is the complaint. A complaint is a document that outlines the plaintiff's case, detailing the basis for the court’s jurisdiction, the relevant facts, and the specific claims being made. This document formally sets the legal process in motion and informs the defendant of the nature of the allegations they are facing.

In contrast, while "claim" can sometimes be used interchangeably with "complaint," it typically refers more broadly to any assertion of a right, rather than the specific document filed to commence the lawsuit. A "petition" is generally used in different contexts, such as seeking a court order in matters like divorce or guardianship. A "counterclaim" represents a claim made by a defendant against a plaintiff in the same legal action, which occurs after the initial filing. Each of these terms serves a distinct purpose in the legal process, but the complaint is specifically designated as the document that initiates a lawsuit.