Frix
Try Donna

Rule 3. Commencing an Action

District of ColumbiaCourt rules

Ask Donna

How this section applies to your facts.

District of Columbia Court Rules › Civil Division › Superior Court Rules of Civil Procedure › Super. Ct. Civ. R. 3

This text was captured on Aug 14, 2026. It is a snapshot, not a live feed, so check the official code before relying on it.

Text

A civil action is commenced by filing a complaint with the court.

COMMENT TO 2017 AMENDMENTS

Stylistic changes were made to this rule to conform with the 2007 amendments to

Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 3.

COMMENT

Rule 3 identical to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 3.

This is a copy of a public record, reproduced as it was published. It is not legal advice, and it may not be the version a court would rely on. Check the official source before you cite it.

A word about cookies

We need a few to keep you signed in and the library working. The rest help us see which pages people use and where they get stuck. They stay off unless you say yes.