The threshold issue in counterclaim

Rather than guessing at counterclaim, isolate the handful of facts that actually control it. Nail down whether counterclaims are allowed in the case before anything else moves forward, and keep the dollar limit as a distinct, separately-sourced item.

Nothing here is locked in yet, so a mistaken assumption is still cheap to fix. Clear up the filing deadline while the record is still blank, before it can influence a later step.

Head the checklist with whether counterclaims are allowed in the case, and record the dollar limit underneath it with a citation to where each answer came from.

Work through this step one fact at a time

Round out the review by checking the filing deadline, the correct counterclaim form, and service requirements. None of the three should rest on memory alone — each needs a document or citation behind it.

A brief, dated line is easier to audit than a long paragraph. Note the source beside the correct counterclaim form, date the entry, and link service requirements to the exact record that backs it.

Keep the record behind this question

Anchor the file to the primary documents, then add whatever answers whether counterclaims are allowed in the case and service requirements, so the two questions are not mixed together in one loose note.

Use the scenario to check whether the file is organized in a checkable way. When the facts are confirmed, link the filing deadline to both its source and the controlling instruction.

The example ties together the dollar limit and the correct counterclaim form. The scenario helps organize those two facts; it is not a stand-in for the local rule.

Local instructions that control counterclaim

With this issue, the biggest risk is borrowing a rule that only applies in a different state. Verify the local rule that governs this specific court before relying on it.

Official sources to verify this step

A note on state variation: this step rules, limits, and timing are state-specific. What is cited here is a procedural example for counterclaim, not a rule that applies everywhere. Check it against the specific court's own instructions before relying on it.

Finish this point review

Close counterclaim with a two-line summary: confirmed facts on one line, open questions on the other. Come back to that note before the next action is taken.