Pleading refers to a legal document that is filed with a court, typically by an attorney on behalf of their client. This document outlines the arguments and evidence in support of the case being made and serves as a formal request for the court to take action. Pleadings can include documents such as complaints, answers, motions or petitions, depending on the stage of legal proceeding they are filed in. The purpose of pleading is to present facts and arguments that demonstrate why the party filing the document should be granted relief by the court.