Civil litigation refers to the legal process of resolving disputes between individuals, organizations, or entities through the court system. In civil litigation, one party (the plaintiff) initiates a lawsuit against another party (the defendant) to seek compensation, resolution, or specific actions rather than criminal penalties. The plaintiff alleges that the defendant's actions or negligence caused harm or violated their legal rights, and they are seeking redress for the damages suffered.

The plaintiff may be an individual who has been injured by someone else's actions, such as in a car accident; a company suing another company for unfair business practices; or an individual suing an organization for discrimination or breach of contract. Civil litigations can also arise from disputes over land ownership; breach of contract; personal injury claims; probate issues involving wills and estates; and other areas where parties require assistance from the court system to resolve their dispute.