28 USC § 2632 - Commencement of a civil action

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t28/s2632"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "28 USC § 2632 - Commencement of a civil action"
title_number: 28
title_name: "JUDICIARY AND JUDICIAL PROCEDURE"
section_number: "2632"
section_name: "Commencement of a civil action"
chapter_number: 169
chapter_name: "COURT OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE PROCEDURE"
part_number: "VI"
part_name: "PARTICULAR PROCEEDINGS"
positive_law: true
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Added Pub. L. 96–417, title III, § 301, Oct. 10, 1980, 94 Stat. 1732.)"
---


# § 2632. Commencement of a civil action

**(a)** Except for civil actions specified in subsections (b) and (c) of this section, a civil action in the Court of International Trade shall be commenced by filing concurrently with the clerk of the court a summons and complaint, with the content and in the form, manner, and style prescribed by the rules of the court.

**(b)** A civil action in the Court of International Trade under section 515 or section 516 of the Tariff Act of 1930 shall be commenced by filing with the clerk of the court a summons, with the content and in the form, manner, and style prescribed by the rules of the court.

**(c)** A civil action in the Court of International Trade under section 516A of the Tariff Act of 1930 shall be commenced by filing with the clerk of the court a summons or a summons and a complaint, as prescribed in such section, with the content and in the form, manner, and style prescribed by the rules of the court.

**(d)** The Court of International Trade may prescribe by rule that any summons, pleading, or other paper mailed by registered or certified mail properly addressed to the clerk of the court with the proper postage affixed and return receipt requested shall be deemed filed as of the date of mailing.

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**Source Credit**: (Added Pub. L. 96–417, title III, § 301, Oct. 10, 1980, 94 Stat. 1732.)

## Editorial Notes

### References in Text

Sections 515 and 516 of the Tariff Act of 1930, referred to in subsec. (b), are classified to sections 1515 and 1516, respectively, of Title 19, Customs Duties.

Section 516A of the Tariff Act of 1930, referred to in subsec. (c), is classified to .

### Prior Provisions

A prior section 2632, acts , ; , , ; , , ; , , , related to Customs Court procedure and fees, prior to the general revision of this chapter by . See .

## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Subsec. (a) of this section applicable with respect to civil actions commenced on or after , see , set out as an Effective Date of 1980 Amendment note under .