Which document must be filed by a plaintiff to start an ordinary civil action in district or superior court?

To initiate an ordinary civil action in district or superior court, a plaintiff must file a Civil Summons. This document serves as a formal notice to the defendant that legal action has been initiated against them and provides essential information about the nature of the claim, the court in which the action is filed, and the timeframe within which the defendant must respond.

The Civil Summons is critical because it ensures that the defendant is properly informed about the proceedings and has the opportunity to prepare their defense in response to the allegations. By adhering to this requirement, the legal process can move forward systematically and fairly.

Other documents mentioned, like a Civil Order, Magistrate Summons, and Domestic Violence Petition, serve different purposes in the legal system. A Civil Order might pertain to a specific directive from the court, while a Magistrate Summons typically pertains to actions handled in a magistrate's court, which may involve lesser claims. A Domestic Violence Petition is specific to situations involving allegations of domestic abuse and is not generally used to start an ordinary civil action unrelated to such claims. Thus, they do not fulfill the necessary role of starting an ordinary civil action.