Home › California Court Forms › PLD-PI-001
California Court Forms · Civil
The fill-in complaint that starts a personal injury, property damage or wrongful death case. See what each item asks and which attachments it needs.
Optional form · Revised January 1, 2024 · 3 pages · SUM-100 · summons, and CM-010 · civil case cover sheet
The PDF is the Judicial Council’s own file on courts.ca.gov, revised January 1, 2024. Form page on courts.ca.gov ↗
Not legal advice. This page explains what the form asks; it does not tell you what to put in your case.
Your free check
Create a free account and Lexary reads every page.
Create a free accountWhat it is
PLD-PI-001 identifies the parties, the court and the damages. Item 10 says each complaint must have one or more causes of action attached, such as motor vehicle, general negligence, intentional tort, products liability or premises liability. The form cites Code of Civil Procedure section 425.12.
When it is used
The caption asks whether the action is a limited civil case (not more than $35,000) or an unlimited civil case (more than $35,000), and whether an amended complaint reclassifies it.
Section by section
Use the current official form and its instructions. The descriptions below identify the questions without choosing answers for your situation.
Type of case (motor vehicle or other; property damage, personal injury, wrongful death) and the limited or unlimited classification.
Who sues whom, and the number of pages including attachments and exhibits.
Each plaintiff is a competent adult, or an exception such as a corporation, public entity, minor or adult with a guardian or conservator.
A fictitious business name, and whether each defendant is a natural person or an entity.
Doe defendants and defendants joined under Code of Civil Procedure section 382.
Why this court: a defendant’s residence, a business’s principal place, where the injury or damage occurred, or other.
Compliance with, or excuse from, an applicable claims statute.
The cause-of-action attachments that apply.
Wage loss, medical expenses, property damage, general damage and others; wrongful death damages and relationships.
Compensatory and punitive damages, the amount (according to proof for personal injury or wrongful death), allegations on information and belief, date and signature.
Before you file
These checks come from the official form and instructions. They are not a ranking of rejection reasons; the court decides whether a filing meets its requirements.
E-file it
Legal Hub Group is a certified e-filing service provider for California courts. Availability depends on the live court, case type, document type and whether the case is new or existing.
1
Check the current court and case-type list. A court must support the particular filing; this guide does not make every form available in every county.
2
Upload the finished papers and their attachments. Lexary checks them for common filing problems. Review the documents and the results before continuing.
3
Confirm the case, document types and payment choice. Review every fee shown before submitting.
4
The court reviews the filing. Keep the court’s acceptance and returned copy, or read its rejection notice before deciding what to do next.
$14.99 Legal Hub Group fee per e-filing, plus applicable court and court-system fees. Each fee is shown before submitting.
E-service is included free where available. No subscription. E-filing and service of opening papers are separate requirements.
Live counties with a relevant case type: Butte · Calaveras · Colusa · Contra Costa · Glenn · Los Angeles · Madera · Mariposa · Mendocino · Merced · Napa · San Bernardino · San Diego · San Luis Obispo · San Mateo · Santa Barbara · Santa Clara · Santa Cruz · Sonoma · Stanislaus · Sutter · Tehama · Yolo · Yuba. Check each listing’s new-case or existing-case status and document restrictions.
Questions
No. It is approved for optional use. A plaintiff may use it or prepare a complaint in another proper format.
In a personal injury or wrongful death case the complaint states damages according to proof. A Statement of Damages (CIV-050) is a separate form served on the defendant.
A civil case usually needs a summons (SUM-100) and a civil case cover sheet (CM-010) with the complaint. Check the court’s local requirements too.
Related forms
Not legal advice. This page explains public filing information. It does not tell you what to put in your own case. Legal Hub Group is a certified e-filing service provider for California courts, not a law firm.
Information checked as of October 2026. Rules, form revisions and provider prices can change. The court decides whether to accept a filing.
PLD-PI-001 form revision: January 1, 2024.