What is an official notice from a court issued to a defendant after a plaintiff's petition is filed called?

The term that refers to an official notice from a court issued to a defendant after a plaintiff's petition is filed is a summons. A summons serves to inform the defendant that a legal action has been initiated against them and specifies the timeframe within which they must respond or appear in court. It essentially ensures that the defendant is aware of the proceedings and their legal responsibilities regarding the case.

While a citation does also serve to summon an individual to court, it is generally used in specific contexts, such as traffic violations or municipal ordinance violations, rather than in civil litigation involving a plaintiff's petition. A subpoena, on the other hand, is a document that compels individuals to appear as witnesses or to produce evidence in legal proceedings, which is different from notifying a defendant about a lawsuit. An order to appear is not a formal term typically used in civil procedures but may refer colloquially to an instruction given by a judge for a person to appear before the court, making it more informal and less specific than a summons.

Understanding these terms and their appropriate contexts is essential for navigating civil processes effectively.