What may happen if a necessary party is not joined in a lawsuit?

If a necessary party is not joined in a lawsuit, the court cannot grant complete relief among the existing parties. This occurs because the absence of a necessary party may prevent the court from fully addressing all issues involved in the case, which can lead to incomplete remedies or judgments that do not adequately resolve the dispute.

For example, if a lawsuit involves a contract that requires the participation of a third party for enforcement, failing to join that third party may happen will result in the court's inability to provide a fair resolution to the parties present. Thus, the integrity of the legal process hinges on including all necessary parties for complete relief. This ensures that all aspects of the case can be fairly adjudicated and that any judgment made is binding on all relevant parties.

Other options, such as proceeding without any consequences or automatically dismissing claims, don't accurately reflect the procedural nuances involved when a necessary party is absent. The process is designed to address these issues by allowing for solutions like joinder or dismissal under certain circumstances, but complete relief is specifically emphasized in this context.