Legal Definitions - civil process

Civil process refers to the legal proceedings and documents involved in a civil lawsuit. It includes:

• Summonses or writs to appear in court
• Compulsory processes to make someone appear as a witness
• Processes to take bail after arresting a defendant
• Processes to compel a compliance with court demands
• Processes issued at the beginning or end of a judicial proceeding

For example, an alias process is issued when an earlier process has failed for some reason. A bailable process instructs an officer to take bail after arresting a defendant. A compulsory process compels a person to appear in court as a witness. A final process is issued at the conclusion of a judicial proceeding, such as a writ of execution. An original process is issued at the beginning of a judicial proceeding, calling upon a defendant to appear and answer the plaintiff's declaration.

Overall, civil process is the legal framework that ensures a fair and just resolution to a civil lawsuit.