Litigation & Disputes

Statement of Claim

Also called: Notice of Civil Claim, Pleading

The document that starts a lawsuit, setting out the facts alleged and the relief sought.

Varies by jurisdiction. Called a Notice of Civil Claim in British Columbia; names and deadlines vary by province.

Once issued by the court and served, the defendant has a limited time to respond. Failing to respond can lead to default judgment being entered without the merits ever being argued.

Why it matters: the response clock is short. Setting a served claim aside is far harder than answering it on time.

Related terms

Demand Letter

A formal written notice setting out a claim and what is required to resolve it before litigation.

Discovery

The pre-trial stage where parties exchange relevant documents and answer questions under oath.

Limitation Period

The deadline for starting a lawsuit, after which the claim is generally barred no matter how strong it is.

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Statement of Claim — Canadian legal glossary | Lawkin — Lawkin