New York Supreme Court Civil Complaint Filing Checklist

Court: Supreme Court of the State of New York
County: [________________________________]
Index Number: [________________________________] (assigned after filing)
Case Caption: [________________________________] v. [________________________________]
Filing Attorney: [________________________________]
Date Prepared: [__/__/____]

I. Pre-Filing Considerations

Court Selection

☐ Supreme Court has general jurisdiction (unlimited $)
☐ Amount exceeds lower court limits
☐ Note: Claims under $25,000 should be in NYC Civil Court or other lower courts

Venue (CPLR 503-510)

☐ County where one party resides
☐ County where cause of action arose
☐ County designated in contract (if applicable)

Statute of Limitations

☐ Personal injury: 3 years
☐ Property damage: 3 years
☐ Contract: 6 years
☐ Other: [________________________________]

II. Commencing the Action

Methods (CPLR 304)

☐ Filing method: File with County Clerk (most counties)
☐ Purchase Index Number
☐ Summons with Notice OR Summons and Complaint

Option 1: Summons with Notice (CPLR 305(b))

☐ Brief statement of nature of action
☐ Relief sought
☐ Amount demanded (if money damages)
☐ Complaint to be served within 20 days of defendant's demand

Option 2: Summons and Complaint

☐ Summons
☐ Verified or unverified complaint
☐ Full pleading of claims

III. Required Documents

Index Number Purchase

☐ Index Number Purchase Sheet
☐ Request for Judicial Intervention (RJI) - file when seeking court action
☐ Filing fee paid

Summons

☐ Caption with court and parties
☐ Basis for venue
☐ Required statutory language

Complaint

☐ Caption matches summons
☐ Numbered paragraphs
☐ Separate causes of action
☐ Demand for relief
☐ Verification (if required or elected)

Cover Sheet

☐ Completed cover sheet (if required by county)
☐ All required information

IV. Filing Fee

☐ Index Number fee: $210 (verify current)
☐ RJI fee: $95 (when filed)
☐ Total: Approximately $305+
☐ Fee paid
☐ OR Poor Person Application (CPLR 1101)

V. E-Filing (NYSCEF)

Mandatory E-Filing Counties

☐ Check if county is mandatory e-filing
☐ NYSCEF account active
☐ Website: https://iappscontent.courts.state.ny.us/NYSCEF

Document Requirements

☐ PDF format
☐ Text-searchable
☐ Properly named files

VI. Service of Process (CPLR Article 3)

Service Deadline

☐ 120 days from filing to serve (CPLR 306-b)
☐ Deadline: [__/__/____]

Service Methods (CPLR 308)

☐ Personal delivery
☐ Deliver and mail (leave with person of suitable age)
☐ Affix and mail (nail and mail - court order or after due diligence)
☐ Service by publication (court order required)

Proof of Service

☐ Affidavit of Service filed
☐ Filed with court within 20 days of service

VII. Response Time

☐ 20 days to appear if personally served in New York
☐ 30 days if served by other method or outside New York
☐ Appearance extends time to respond to complaint

VIII. Request for Judicial Intervention (RJI)

☐ File RJI when seeking court action
☐ RJI fee: $95
☐ Triggers case assignment to judge
☐ Required for:
☐ Motions
☐ Discovery disputes
☐ Preliminary conferences

IX. Preliminary Conference

☐ Automatic in most counties after RJI
☐ Preliminary Conference Order sets:
☐ Discovery schedule
☐ Compliance conferences
☐ Note of Issue deadline

X. Special Requirements

Medical Malpractice (CPLR 3012-a)

☐ Certificate of merit required
☐ Reasonable basis for action

Verified Pleading

☐ Required for certain actions
☐ Respondent must verify answer if complaint verified

XI. Quality Control

☐ All parties correctly named
☐ Proper venue alleged
☐ All claims stated
☐ Verification (if required)
☐ Filing fee ready

XII. Document Tracking

Sources and References

• CPLR: https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/CVP
• NYSCEF: https://iappscontent.courts.state.ny.us/NYSCEF
• Part 202 Uniform Rules: https://ww2.nycourts.gov/rules/trialcourts/202.shtml

Prepared by: [________________________________]
Date: [__/__/____]