What document formally starts legal proceedings against an individual?

The document that formally initiates legal proceedings against an individual is the complaint. A complaint is a legal document filed by a plaintiff in a civil case that outlines the claims against a defendant and the relief being sought. It sets forth the facts of the case, the legal basis for the claims, and serves to notify the defendant of the actions being taken against them.

In the context of legal proceedings, the summons is a document that notifies the defendant that a lawsuit has been filed against them and instructs them on how and when to respond. While it is an important part of the legal process, it is not the document that officially starts the proceedings—that role is fulfilled by the complaint.

An indictment, on the other hand, is a formal accusation typically issued by a grand jury in a criminal case, alleging that an individual has committed a crime. A subpoena is a document that orders an individual to appear in court or produce documents for a legal proceeding but does not initiate the legal action itself.