Start a Civil Lawsuit in Superior Court Quick Resource Guide

How to Begin

You may need the following forms when starting a civil lawsuit:

If you are seeking judicial review of a government agency’s decision, please see the Administrative Writ of Mandamus Quick Resource Guide. If you are starting an unlawful detainer (eviction case), please see the Evicting a Tenant Quick Resource Guide.

Civil Filing Locations

Service of Summons

    • California Courts Self-Help Guide: Serve the Defendant
    • Handling Service of Process (Serving Summons in Civil Proceedings) (Action Guide), Reference, KFC1004 .P75 L57 2025, or online via the OnLaw Database

Videos

LA Law Library

Civil Lawsuit Basics: How to File and Respond to Complaints
A civil lawsuit starts with the filing and service of a written complaint; the defendant must then file an answer or other response. These are called pleadings, and they set the stage for all that comes afterward in the lawsuit. In this class, learn how to prepare, file, serve and respond to civil case pleadings in California state court.

Books

    • Win Your Lawsuit: Sue in California Superior Court Without a Lawyer, KFC968 .D86 2010, shelved at the Reference desk
    • California Civil Procedure Before Trial, KFC995 .C35 2004, CA Collection 1st Floor, Chapter 11 – Pleadings and Court Papers, Chapter 15 – Complaints, Chapter 17 – Service of Summons.  Also available online via OnLaw
    • Litigation By the Numbers, KFC995 .A65 G78 2003, shelved at the Reference desk, Chapter 1 – Appearance by Plaintiff, Chapter 2 – Filing, Service, and Calendaring
    • California Causes of Action, KFC1010 .C32 2025, shelved at the Reference desk.  Also available online via Lexis Advance
    • California Elements of an Action, KFC1010 .S74 2025, shelved at the Reference desk.  Also available online via Westlaw
    • California Forms of Pleading and Practice, KFC1010 .A65 C3, shelf 106A.  Also available online via Lexis Advance and the LexisNexis Digital Library

Free Legal Help

Community Legal Assistance Saturday Program (CLASP)
Free all-topics telephone legal clinic on the first Saturday of the month.  Volunteer attorneys speak with individuals for 15-20 minutes.  To make an appointment, call the intake line at (510) 485-9933 between 10:00 am – noon on the first Saturday/month and an attorney will call you back later that day.  CLASP Flyer  (PDF)

    • To sign up for an appointment call (510) 485-9933 on the first Saturday of the month between 10:00 am and 12 Noon.  At attorney will call you back that afternoon
    • The phone call from the attorney will be from an “blocked number” or “private party” – you won’t be able to see a phone number.  You must answer the phone, because if you miss the call, the attorney will call the next person on the list, and might not have time to call you back.

Hire an Attorney

BALI – Bay Area Legal Incubator

    • Address: 125 12th St. Oakland, CA Mezzanine Level
    • Affordable legal services. Some attorneys offer sliding scale fees
    • In-take form available on website, and you can also read the profiles and get contact information for the BALI attorneys
    • Bay Area Legal Incubator Website for more information:

ACBA Lawyer Referral Service

California State Bar

The California State Bar lists basic information about all attorneys registered to practice law in the state of California.  In addition, the site also provides an attorney referral service for the public to find qualified attorneys in their county.

Updated 4.17.2026

Skills

Posted on

March 4, 2026