What must a plaintiff do if they need to amend their complaint after filing in federal court?

When a plaintiff wishes to amend their complaint after filing in federal court, they can generally do so as a matter of course within a specific time frame. According to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, a plaintiff is permitted to amend their complaint once without the need for permission from the court if it is done within 21 days after serving the original complaint or within 21 days after a defendant's responsive pleading or motion. In this case, the choice that focuses on the timeline indicates the correct answer.

Additionally, while there are instances when a plaintiff would need to seek permission from the court to amend the complaint, such as after the initial period has passed or if the amendment is significant, the option indicating a specific time frame reinforces the procedural rule governing amendments.

The other choices do not align with this procedural rule. Notifying the court immediately is not necessary; the court typically does not need to be notified until the amendment is filed. Submitting a request for an extension may be appropriate in certain contexts, but it is not a requirement for amending a complaint within the permitted time frame. Lastly, waiting for the court's decision before amending would store potential delays and does not align with the plaintiff's right to amend their complaint as laid out by the