I've Been Served With Legal Papers-Now What?

You've been serves with legal papers–Now what?

Review the paperwork, to see if the court requires a reply within a certain time period or, if a court date has already been scheduled. If a reply is required, the allotted time to reply begins the day you receive the notice. If you do not respond within that time frame, the opposition might be able to proceed without providing further notice.  If there is a court date listed, you or your lawyer must attend Court that day. 

What if I refuse to go to court?

The Court can make a decision based on the information provided, if it can be documented that you have been given proper notice. 

The following list details the more common legal notices.

  • Summons and Complaint

You are being sued. If you don’t file an answer, a default judgment will be entered against you. If you snooze, you lose.

  • Writ of Garnishment

You have been sued and lost. Your employer or bank will receive this garnishment notice. If you deem the garnishment improper, request a hearing with the judge within ten days.

  • Subpoena

You are a witness in a case. A litigant (or court) demands you testify. 

  • Restraining Order

A judge issues an order that prevents you from doing something. The order will delineate what you are not allowed to do and how to fight the order. Typically, those served, file papers explaining why the order requires changes or a dismissal. Until decided, you must obey the order.

When a service processor hands you legal paperwork, the Court has successfully notified you of your legal obligation to respond. If befuddled, act wisely and call an attorney for assistance.

If you or someone you know needs more information on a process server, contact the team at Same Day Process Service today.

The Benefits of Hiring a Private Investigator

Originally posted on 07/05/2016 We all want more info in life, but sometimes that information is hard to come by. A private investigator can help to uncover important information including a search for a person's whereabouts. Private...

What Is Skip Tracing?

Originally posted on 09/10/2015 Sometimes finding someone is the biggest issue with having them do something! Process servers help deliver the legal documents that make the legal system operate. This system would not run nearly as...

Which Industries Most Often Use Process Servers?

Originally posted on 10/19/2015 At Same Day Process Service, our clients come from a variety of industries. With a combined 60 years of experience, every skilled process server we work with has successfully served individuals for...

How Is Skip Tracing Performed?

Originally posted on 12/21/2015 What do you do when you can't find something or someone? Do you call around? Maybe you check the place where you saw that object or person last. How does this search become more intense when you have...

Do I Need to Hire a Process Server?

Originally posted on 03/01/2016 Legal matters experience a better outcome through the hiring of a professional process server. Additionally, you’ll experience less frustration as well as time savings. Check out the reasons why you...

Serving Heavyweight Boxer Pedro Lovell

Serving civil process is often too exciting and is perpetually, non-stop OJT (on the job training). I received papers to serve on the heavyweight boxer, Pedro Lovell, often referred to as "KO King," "The LA Bomber," "The...

How Are Legal Documents Authenticated?

Originally posted on 04/04/2016 While a signature may be authenticated by someone who has reasonable familiarity with a subject's writing, the majority of legal documents require more than a simple statement stating that they are...

How to Choose the Best Process Server

Originally posted on 07/13/2015 Imagine that you want to take action against someone else in court, but you can't notify them because you can't find them. But since the law says that you must notify them, what can...

Serving An Evasive New York Attorney

I was asked to serve divorce papers on a New York attorney who had been avoiding service and was coming to Maryland to visit his parents to celebrate the Passover. He was supposed to be arriving between 2 and 5 pm Friday. Our client informed me...

What Are the Benefits of Hiring a Mobile Notary?

Originally posted on: 11/17/2015 Mobile notaries are notary publics who travel to a client’s location to conduct a notarial act. Almost anyone can benefit from a mobile notary’s services, but there are a few surprising benefits...

How Long Will It Take to Have My Papers Served?

Originally posted on: 03/14/2018 "Are we there yet?" We all remember hearing our kids or maybe or younger selves saying that at one point. We want to be at our destination without the wait on the journey. Serving processes is...

There are court documents inside that Pizza Box!

Imagine for a moment that someone shot you, robbed you, or burglarized your house, and some persons witnessed the crime but refused to testify about what they saw. On occasion, we receive legal documents for people who refuse to make themselves...

Serving Barack Obama: A Private Citizen

When Barack Obama was President, he had to be served legal documents by certified mail.  When he left office, he moved into this beautiful 8,000 square foot brick home on Belmont Street, overlooking Rock Creek Park. Since he was no longer...

A Most Ferocious Dog

I received a subpoena for a person living in Virginia's boondocks.  The trip was a long winding drive through the mountains where I eventually found the house, set back in the trees, 150 yards from the road.  There was a creek and...
Page: 123456 - All