What is the legal term for a notice of complaint delivered to a defendant?

The legal term for a notice of complaint delivered to a defendant is a summons. A summons serves as a formal notification to an individual that they are being called to respond to a legal action, specifically indicating that a lawsuit has been filed against them. It typically outlines the time frame in which the defendant must respond to the allegations made in the complaint.

In civil cases, a summons is essential because it informs the defendant of the claims being made and the need to take action in the court system. It may accompany a complaint, which is the document detailing the plaintiff's claims against the defendant.

Other terms in the choices refer to different legal concepts. For instance, a subpoena is a document that orders an individual to appear in court or produce evidence, while a citation generally refers to a reference to a legal precedent or a summons issued for a minor offense. An indictment is a formal accusation that a person has committed a crime, usually issued by a grand jury, and is not a mechanism for serving a notice of complaint directly to a defendant in a civil context. Thus, a summons specifically fulfills the role of notifying a defendant about a legal proceeding against them.