PLD-C-001, COMPLAINT—Contract, is the Judicial Council of California form that tells the court and the other side you are starting a lawsuit based on breach of contract or a similar theory. The same form can be used for an amended complaint, a cross-complaint or an amended cross-complaint, and it must have one or more causes of action attached. On this page you can fill out the form online on FillingPDF and download or print the completed PDF; the form itself is published by the Judicial Council at courts.ca.gov.
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What is PLD-C-001?
COMPLAINT—Contract (PLD-C-001) is the Judicial Council of California pleading form used to start a lawsuit for breach of contract or a similar theory, stating who the parties are, why the court is proper, which causes of action are attached and what relief is requested.
The Judicial Council of California publishes the form as "Form Approved for Optional Use" under Code of Civil Procedure, § 425.12. The revision printed on it is Rev. January 1, 2024, and the Judicial Council's self-help page lists the same effective date. It has two pages.
The form is the general part of the complaint. It gives the general allegations against the other side, while the claims themselves go on attached pages: item 8 asks you to check the causes of action attached, with boxes for Breach of Contract, Common Counts and Other (specify), and states that each complaint must have one or more causes of action attached.
The numbered items cover:
- the caption, court, parties and the limited or unlimited civil case box;
- the capacity of each plaintiff and each defendant, including Doe defendants;
- claims statutes and the Civil Code sections 1812.10 and 2984.4 box;
- why this court is the proper court;
- other allegations, the prayer for judgment and the paragraphs alleged on information and belief.
The same form is used for a cross-complaint: the form states that in that case plaintiff means cross-complainant and defendant means cross-defendant.
Who needs to file PLD-C-001?
A plaintiff, or an attorney acting for the plaintiff, who is starting a lawsuit based on breach of contract or a similar theory in a California Superior Court uses this form to state the general allegations against the defendant. The top of the form has a block for an attorney or a party without an attorney.
Others who may use it:
- A party filing an amended complaint, which the form handles by a box with the amendment number.
- A cross-complainant filing a cross-complaint or an amended cross-complaint. In that case plaintiff reads as cross-complainant and defendant as cross-defendant.
- A party whose amended pleading changes the case classification, using the reclassified boxes (from limited to unlimited or from unlimited to limited).
If a plaintiff is not a competent adult, the form says information about additional such plaintiffs is shown in Attachment 3c. If additional defendants are not natural persons, that information is in Attachment 4c.
The form is printed as approved for optional use, and the self-help page describes it as a contract-based pleading that must have a cause of action attached. A pleading that is not based on a contract or a similar theory is not what this form describes.
When to file PLD-C-001
Use PLD-C-001 when you are starting a lawsuit based on breach of contract or a similar theory, because it is the pleading that tells the court and the other side what you are alleging. It is also the form for an amended complaint, a cross-complaint or an amended cross-complaint; the form has a box for the amendment number. No separate due date is printed on the form or on the Judicial Council's self-help page, so the time limits that apply to your case come from the court and the law that governs it. Before you file, have the cause-of-action attachment ready, since the form says each complaint must have one or more causes of action attached.
Documents you need
- At least one cause of action attachment: the form states that each complaint must have one or more causes of action attached, chosen in item 8 (Breach of Contract, Common Counts or Other).
- Attachment 3c, only if there are additional plaintiffs who are not competent adults; the form says their information is shown there.
- Attachment 4c, only if there are additional defendants who are not natural persons; the form says their information is contained there.
- Any exhibits you rely on, which are counted with the attachments in the page total in item 2.
- A verification, only if you wish to verify the pleading; the form says to affix one in that case.
How to fill out PLD-C-001
Enter attorney or party information
In the top block, enter the name, State Bar number, firm name, address, telephone, fax, email and the party you are attorney for. A party without an attorney enters their own information.
Complete the court and case caption
Enter the county of the Superior Court of California, its street or mailing address, city and ZIP code, and branch name. Then enter the PLAINTIFF and DEFENDANT names and the DOES 1 TO number.
Mark the pleading type and jurisdiction
Check COMPLAINT, AMENDED COMPLAINT (with its number), CROSS-COMPLAINT or AMENDED CROSS-COMPLAINT (with its number). Under Jurisdiction check all that apply: limited civil case, unlimited civil case or reclassified, with the amount-demanded boxes for a limited case.
Name the parties and page count
In item 1, enter the plaintiff names and the defendant names against whom causes of action are alleged. In item 2, enter the total number of pages including attachments and exhibits.
Describe the plaintiffs in item 3
In 3a, check that each plaintiff is a competent adult or name the exceptions (corporation, unincorporated entity or other). Use 3b for fictitious business name or licensing, and 3c if additional plaintiffs are not competent adults.
Describe the defendants in item 4
In 4a, check natural person or name the exceptions (business organization, corporation, unincorporated entity, public entity or other). Use 4b for Doe defendants with their numbers, 4c for additional defendants, and 4d for defendants joined under Code of Civil Procedure section 382.
Answer items 5 and 6
In item 5, check whether you complied with the claims statute or are excused and why. In item 6, check the box if the action is subject to Civil Code section 1812.10 or Civil Code section 2984.4.
Check why the court is proper
In item 7, check each reason that applies, such as where a defendant entered into the contract, where the contract was to be performed or where real property is located. Use box g to specify another reason.
Select attached causes of action
In item 8, check Breach of Contract, Common Counts or Other (specify) for the attached causes of action. In item 9, add any other allegations.
Complete the prayer for relief
In item 10, enter the damages, interest (according to proof or a rate and start date), attorney's fees (an amount or according to proof) and any other relief you request.
List information and belief paragraphs
In item 11, specify the paragraph numbers of the pleading that are alleged on information and belief.
Review, sign and download the PDF
Enter the date, type or print the name and sign as plaintiff or attorney; affix a verification only if you wish to verify. Check the page count, then download or print the completed PDF from FillingPDF and assemble it with the attachments.
How to submit PLD-C-001
The form prints no filing address, portal, fee or deadline of its own. It is filed with the Superior Court of California in the county named in the caption at the top of page 1, which has spaces for the court's street address, mailing address, city and ZIP code, and branch name.
Before filing, assemble the package:
- Pages 1 and 2 of the completed form, signed and dated by the plaintiff or the attorney.
- The attached cause-of-action page or pages (item 8), plus Attachment 3c or 4c and any exhibits if they apply. Item 2 asks for the total page count including attachments and exhibits.
- A verification, only if you wish to verify the pleading; the form says to affix one in that case.
Contact the court you chose in item 7 for the filing methods it accepts and for any fee that applies; the amount is not printed on the form. FillingPDF lets you fill out and download the PDF; submission follows the filing channels of the court named on the form.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Filing the form without a cause of action attached; the form says each complaint must have one or more causes of action attached under item 8.
- Entering a page count in item 2 that leaves out attachments and exhibits; the count includes them.
- Using the form as a cross-complaint without reading plaintiff as cross-complainant and defendant as cross-defendant.
- Checking a limited or unlimited civil case box that does not match the case, or forgetting the reclassified box when an amended complaint changes the classification.
- Leaving item 7 unchecked, so the pleading does not say why this court is the proper court.
- Checking the Doe boxes in item 4b without writing the Doe numbers that are the agents or employees and those whose capacities are unknown.
- Alleging facts on information and belief without listing the paragraph numbers in item 11.
- Submitting the form unsigned; the signature of the plaintiff or attorney goes above the verification note on page 2.
Frequently asked questions
What is PLD-C-001?
PLD-C-001 is the Judicial Council of California form titled COMPLAINT—Contract. It tells the court and the other side that you are starting a lawsuit based on breach of contract or a similar theory, and it states your general allegations. One or more causes of action must be attached.
Can I fill out PLD-C-001 online?
Yes. You can fill out the PDF online on FillingPDF and download or print it. FillingPDF is an independent service and does not file the complaint; you file it with the court named in the form's caption through that court's filing channels.
Do I have to attach a cause of action to PLD-C-001?
Yes. Item 8 states that each complaint must have one or more causes of action attached. The form offers boxes for Breach of Contract and Common Counts, and an Other (specify) box for a different cause of action.
Can I use PLD-C-001 for a cross-complaint?
Yes. The form has boxes for a cross-complaint and an amended cross-complaint. When it is used that way, the form says plaintiff means cross-complainant and defendant means cross-defendant.
What do I check for limited or unlimited civil case?
Check the jurisdiction box that matches your case: limited civil case (with the amount-demanded boxes) or unlimited civil case. The form states the dollar thresholds next to each box. For an amended pleading that changes the classification, check the reclassified box and its direction.
Who signs PLD-C-001?
The plaintiff or the plaintiff's attorney signs above the signature note on page 2, with the date and a typed or printed name. A verification is optional: the form says to affix one only if you wish to verify the pleading.
What do I put in item 7, proper court?
Check every reason that makes this court the proper one: a defendant entered into the contract here, lived here when it was made or lives here now, the contract was to be performed here, a corporate defendant's principal place of business is here, or real property is here. Box g covers other reasons.
Where do I file PLD-C-001?
The form names no filing address of its own. It is filed with the Superior Court of California in the county shown in the caption, in the branch you list. Contact that court for its accepted filing methods and any fee, since neither is printed on the form.
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