JUSTICE COURT.

I.  Civil Suit.

SUMMONS.

State of _____, }ss. 
County of ____ }

[Footnote:  This brace of lines, giving the state and county as introductory to a process, certificate, affidavit or other paper, is called a “venue,” and should be inserted wherever the word (Venue) is expressed in forms given hereafter.]

The state of _______ to the sheriff or any constable of said county: 

You are hereby commanded to summon A.M., if he shall be found in your county, to be and appear before the undersigned, one of the justices of the peace in and for said county, on the ___ day of _____ 18_____, at ___ o’clock in the ____noon, at my office in the ____, in said county, to answer to J.T. in a civil action; and have you then and there this writ.

Given under my hand this ___ day of ___, A.D. 18_____.

W.D.D., Justice of the Peace.

CONSTABLE’S RETURN.

(Venue as in Summons.)

I hereby certify that I personally served the within summons upon the within named defendant, by reading the same to him, in said county, on the __ day of _________, 18_____.

Fees—­Mileage, 8 miles, — — .80
Service, — — — — — — — — — .15
                             —­
                            .95

G.M.G., Constable.

COMPLAINT.

State of ______} ss.                   In Justice Court,
County of ____}            Before W.D.D., Justice of the Peace. 
J.T., plaintiff,
against
A.M., defendant.

[Footnote:  All the affidavits, pleadings, and other papers filed by parties in an action should be “entitled,” that is to say, should begin with a caption similar to the above, giving the state and county, name of justice, and the names of the parties, plaintiff and defendant, to the action.  This caption (title of cause) is to be inserted in every form given hereafter, wherever it is so expressed.]

The complaint of the plaintiff shows to this court that at ___, in the
state of ___, on the _____ day of ____, 18___, the defendant made his
promissory note in writing, dated on that day, and thereby promised to pay
to the plaintiff (one year after date) the sum of (eighty) dollars, for
value received, with interest thereon from the said date at the rate of
(ten) per cent, per annum until fully paid, and delivered the same to the
plaintiff.

That the plaintiff is now the holder and owner of said note; that the same has not been paid, nor any part thereof; but the defendant is now justly indebted to the plaintiff thereon in the sum of (eighty) dollars, with interest as aforesaid.

Wherefore, the plaintiff demands judgment against the defendant for the sum of (eighty-nine) dollars and (sixty) cents, with costs of suit.