stævning

Stævning is the Danish term for a writ of summons that initiates civil proceedings in Danish courts. It is the formal document by which a plaintiff brings a case before the court and informs the defendant of the claims.

A stævning sets out who is involved, the court and case number (once assigned), the factual and legal grounds for the claim, the relief or remedy sought, and the procedural steps the parties must follow. It may also attach supporting evidence and specify the deadline to respond and where the defendant must appear.

The document is drafted by the plaintiff or the plaintiff’s lawyer and filed with the appropriate court. The court then issues the stævning to both parties, and the defendant is formally served with it by the proper authority, typically the police or the bailiff’s office (fogedretten). Service constitutes formal notice, and the defendant is given a specified svarfrist (response deadline) to submit an answer or defenses.

If the defendant responds within the deadline, the case moves forward through written pleadings, possible settlement discussions, or a trial, including any scheduled hearings. If no timely response is filed, the court may issue a default judgment on the claims presented in the stævning.

Legal rules governing stævning are found in the Danish Administration of Justice Act (Retsplejeloven) and related procedural provisions. The format and service requirements are designed to ensure that defendants receive clear notice and an opportunity to present their case. While primarily a civil mechanism, the concept and terminology are used within Denmark’s legal system and in related jurisdictions that share Danish procedural traditions.