What are the main stages of a lawsuit from preparation through enforcement of a judgment?

Lawsuits generally follow a structured progression, though specific procedures vary between common-law and civil-law traditions.12

1. Pleading and Preparation

The process typically begins with a complaint (or initial pleading), where the plaintiff formally states their claim, establishes jurisdiction, and demands relief. This initiates the pretrial stage, where parties notify each other of claims and defenses. During the preparatory phase, parties engage in discovery—the exchange of information through interrogatories, depositions, and document production—to uncover and organize evidence. This stage also allows courts to resolve cases through pretrial motions, such as summary judgment, if no factual dispute remains.3124

2. Trial or Main Hearing

If the case is not settled or dismissed, it proceeds to a trial (common law) or a main hearing (civil law). Here, parties present evidence and arguments before a judge or jury to prove their factual contentions.12

3. Judgment and Enforcement

Following the trial, the court issues a judgment. If the losing party fails to comply, the winner may initiate enforcement procedures. For monetary awards, this often involves the levy of execution on property or garnishment of income. Nonmonetary judgments may be enforced through court-ordered actions or, in some jurisdictions, by punishing noncompliance as contempt of court.15