---
title: "Check a federal complaint pack before filing"
url: "https://ailawframework.com/practice/debt-recovery-and-civil-enforcement/check-the-claim-pack-against-the-current-form-fee-and-registry-rules-bef/united-states"
type: "task_jurisdiction_version"
site: "AI Law Framework"
id: "A46-X20260927-1-US"
practice_area: "Debt Recovery & Civil Enforcement"
tier: "yellow"
lawyer_review: "required"
jurisdictions: ["US"]
last_reviewed: "2026-10-22"
---

# Check a federal complaint pack before filing

> Check the draft complaint for a jurisdiction statement, a statement of the claim, and a demand for relief, and check that a summons is with the complaint. List what is missing. Do not state a filing fee.

Canonical page: https://ailawframework.com/practice/debt-recovery-and-civil-enforcement/check-the-claim-pack-against-the-current-form-fee-and-registry-rules-bef/united-states  
Last reviewed: 2026-10-22

Site index for agents: https://ailawframework.com/llms.txt

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Practice area | [Debt Recovery & Civil Enforcement](https://ailawframework.com/practice/debt-recovery-and-civil-enforcement.md) |
| Human involvement | Yellow: Lawyer and AI draft together |
| How AI is used | Check the draft complaint for a jurisdiction statement, a statement of the claim, and a demand for relief, and check that a summons is with the complaint. List what is missing. Do not state a filing fee. |
| What the lawyer must review | You decide whether the pack can be filed. Rule 8(a) requires the jurisdiction grounds unless the court already has jurisdiction and the claim needs no new support, a short and plain statement of the claim, and a demand for the relief sought. Rule 4(c) requires the summons to be served with a copy of the complaint, and Rule 4(m) sets 90 days. Rule 4(h) requires service on a corporation, partnership, or association in a judicial district by the state-law method in Rule 4(e)(1), or by delivery to an officer, a managing or general agent, or another agent authorized by appointment or by law, with a mailing as well if the statute that authorizes that agent requires it. Rule 11(b) is your certification of the paper. No fee schedule was opened, so the check states no fee. State courts use their own forms. |
| Written for | United States |
| Applies to | [Check the claim pack against the current form, fee and registry rules before filing](https://ailawframework.com/practice/debt-recovery-and-civil-enforcement/check-the-claim-pack-against-the-current-form-fee-and-registry-rules-bef.md) |

## Checking plan

- What the AI does: Check the draft complaint for a jurisdiction statement, a statement of the claim, and a demand for relief, and check that a summons is with the complaint. List what is missing. Do not state a filing fee.
- Basis: Checked against the linked sources on 22 October 2026. Confirm the current instrument before reliance.

## Notes

- Do not invent a civil cover sheet or a fee. Neither was opened.
- Service in a foreign country is outside the 90-day limit in Rule 4(m).

## Sources

- [Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 8](https://www.law.cornell.edu/rules/frcp/rule_8) (checked 2026-10-22)
- [Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 4](https://www.law.cornell.edu/rules/frcp/rule_4) (checked 2026-10-22)
- [Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 11](https://www.law.cornell.edu/rules/frcp/rule_11) (checked 2026-10-22)

## Forms and precedents for this task

| Form or precedent | Kind | AI level | Summary |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Claim (Form 2), statement of claim (Form 16) and default judgment (Queensland courts): debt recovery guide](https://ailawframework.com/precedents/debt-recovery-and-civil-enforcement/form-qld-claim-statement-of-claim-default-judgment.md) | Form | Yellow | Link to Queensland Courts' guide to recovering money owed, with the court for each claim value, Forms 2 and 16, filing copies, service within one year, the Form 46 affidavit of service, the 28-day… |
| [General procedure claim (WA Magistrates Court civil Form 3): completion guide](https://ailawframework.com/precedents/debt-recovery-and-civil-enforcement/form-wa-mc-general-claim.md) | Form | Yellow | Link to Magistrates Court of Western Australia civil Form 3, the general procedure claim, on the Court's forms page. Other documents on that page are also called Form 3.… |
| [Claim for recovery of possession of real property (Magistrates Court of Western Australia Form 5): completion guide](https://ailawframework.com/precedents/debt-recovery-and-civil-enforcement/form-wa-mc-possession.md) | Form | Yellow | Link to Magistrates Court of Western Australia civil Form 5, Claim for recovery of possession of real property. Other Form 5 documents on the same forms index are not this claim.… |
| [Complaint (Magistrates' Court of Victoria Form 5A): starting a debt claim and the 21-day notice of defence](https://ailawframework.com/precedents/debt-recovery-and-civil-enforcement/form-vic-magistrates-complaint-5a.md) | Form | Yellow | Link to the Magistrates' Court of Victoria Form 5A complaint, with a guide to the plaintiff's address for service, the notice to the defendant, the 21-day time to give notice of defence (Form 8A) or… |
| [General procedure claim, consumer or trader (Magistrates Court of Western Australia Form 7): completion guide](https://ailawframework.com/precedents/debt-recovery-and-civil-enforcement/form-wa-mc-consumer-claim.md) | Form | Yellow | Link to Magistrates Court of Western Australia Form 7, General Procedure Claim (Consumer/Trader). Other Form 7 documents on the forms index are not this claim. The file was not opened. |
| [Minor case claim (WA Magistrates Court civil Form 4): completion guide](https://ailawframework.com/precedents/debt-recovery-and-civil-enforcement/form-wa-mc-minor-claim.md) | Form | Yellow | Link to Magistrates Court of Western Australia civil Form 4, the minor case claim. Other Form 4 documents on the Court's forms page are a fee-remission application and a criminal summons. |
| [Statement of minor case claim (Magistrates Court of Western Australia Form 20): completion guide](https://ailawframework.com/precedents/debt-recovery-and-civil-enforcement/form-wa-mc-minor-statement.md) | Form | Yellow | Link to Magistrates Court of Western Australia Form 20, Statement of Minor Case Claim. It is not Form 4, the minor case claim, and it is not Form 19, the statement of a general procedure claim. |
| [Statement of general procedure claim (WA Magistrates Court civil Form 19): completion guide](https://ailawframework.com/precedents/debt-recovery-and-civil-enforcement/form-wa-mc-statement.md) | Form | Yellow | Link to Magistrates Court of Western Australia civil Form 19, the statement of general procedure claim. The Court's file name includes post 1 June 2020.… |
| [Civil claim (Magistrates Court of Tasmania Form 1): completion guide](https://ailawframework.com/precedents/debt-recovery-and-civil-enforcement/form-tas-mc-claim.md) | Form | Yellow | Link to Magistrates Court of Tasmania civil Form 1, the claim. The same forms list uses Form 1 for child protection and fair work claims. Use the civil claim. |
| [Originating application intended to be served (Magistrates Court of Tasmania Form 37): completion guide](https://ailawframework.com/precedents/debt-recovery-and-civil-enforcement/form-tas-mc-originating.md) | Form | Yellow | Link to Magistrates Court of Tasmania civil Form 37, Originating Application Intended to be Served. Civil Form 1 is the claim and already has a guide.… |
| [Statement of claim (NT Local Court Form 7A): completion guide](https://ailawframework.com/precedents/debt-recovery-and-civil-enforcement/form-nt-lc-statement.md) | Form | Yellow | Link to Local Court of the Northern Territory Form 7A statement of claim, publication number 07A, dated 22 February 2018. The file name also refers to Form 8A and Form 19A.… |
| [Default judgment (Magistrates Court of Tasmania Form 21): completion guide](https://ailawframework.com/precedents/debt-recovery-and-civil-enforcement/form-tas-mc-default-judgment.md) | Form | Yellow | Link to Magistrates Court of Tasmania civil Form 21, Default Judgment. The forms list names the form. It does not state when default judgment is available. The file was not opened. |
| [Civil dispute application (ACAT): completion guide](https://ailawframework.com/precedents/debt-recovery-and-civil-enforcement/form-acat-civil-dispute.md) | Form | Yellow | Link to the ACAT printable civil dispute application and the online civil dispute form. The PDF file name includes AF-2021-28.… |
| [Default judgment for a liquidated demand (Supreme Court of Western Australia Form 32): completion guide](https://ailawframework.com/precedents/debt-recovery-and-civil-enforcement/form-wa-sc-default-judgment.md) | Form | Yellow | Link to Supreme Court of Western Australia Form 32, default judgment in an action for a liquidated demand. The forms table lists Order 13 rule 2 and Order 42 rule 1, and two copies for filing. |
| [Application for a minor civil dispute, minor debt (QCAT Form 3)](https://ailawframework.com/precedents/debt-recovery-and-civil-enforcement/form-qld-qcat-3-minor-debt.md) | Form | Yellow | Link to QCAT Form 3 for a minor civil dispute about a fixed or agreed sum of money, valued up to $25,000 excluding interest. |
| [AO 440 summons in a civil action (US district court): issue, serve and prove service](https://ailawframework.com/precedents/commercial-litigation-and-dispute-resolution/us-ao-440-summons.md) | Form | Red | Link to national form AO 440. Rule 4 sets what the summons must say, the clerk issues it, and the proof of service on the form is a declaration under penalty of perjury. |

Signed-in accounts can read the full text of each one.

*Practice guidance for planning and review. Confirm current primary sources and the requirements of the actual matter. This is general information, not legal advice.*