how long does it take an attorney to answer a summons and complaint

by Eda Parker 10 min read

Typically, you have twenty calendar days from when you received the summons and complaint (not counting the day of service) to file a response with the court. But that time might be shorter in some cases. So read the summons and all papers you received carefully!

However you decide to respond to the lawsuit, remember there are deadlines to take action. Typically, you have twenty calendar days from when you received the summons and complaint (not counting the day of service) to file a response with the court. But that time might be shorter in some cases.

Full Answer

How long do I have to respond to a summons?

Mar 14, 2019 · How long do you have to respond to a summons? Typically, you have twenty calendar days from when you received the summons and complaint (not counting the day of service) to file a response with the court. But that time might be shorter in some cases. So read the summons and all papers you received carefully!

Why can't I file an answer to a summons and complaint?

Sep 11, 2020 · How long does it take for a summons to be served? In any other case, a pleading shall be served in the manner provided for service of papers generally. Service of an answer or reply shall be made within twenty days after service of the pleading to which it responds. (b) Service of complaint where summons served without complaint.

When does a defendant have to respond to a complaint?

The response is sent to the plaintiffs attorney or directly to the plaintiff, if the plaintiff is appearing is self represented. The written response must be made within 20 days of personal service, or within 30 days of the time when service by any other means is complete.

How long does a plaintiff have to respond to a counterclaim?

from the Court, you will notice that it demands that you Answer the complaint within 28 days after you are served with the Summons. YOU MUST FILE YOUR ANSWER WITHIN 28 DAYS. The page immediately below the Summons should be the first page of the Complaint against you. Read the complaint carefully. Failure to answer the Complaint in writing within 28 days after

How long does it take to respond to a lawsuit?

The written response must be made within 20 days of personal service, or within 30 days of the time when service by any other means is complete .

What is an answer in a complaint?

The Answer An answer, like a complaint, states a party's position regarding the case. (See attached example of an answer). First, the answer contains the caption of the case. The body of the answer consists of a series of numbered paragraphs.

Who must serve a copy of the answer?

A copy of the answer must be served upon the plaintiff's attorney or upon a pro se plaintiff, and upon all other parties. Unlike service of papers initiating a lawsuit, an answer may be served by mail by someone (not you) over the age of eighteen, who is not a party to the case. See CPLR 2103(a).

How to obtain a default judgment?

The first is by applying to the Judgment Clerk in the County Clerk's Office. This may only be done when the plaintiff's summons and complaint or summons with notice seek money damages only , and no other form of relief.

What is a counterclaim in a complaint?

An answer to the complaint may also contain a counterclaim. A counterclaim seeks relief (for example, money damages) against the plaintiff. Counterclaims should be set forth in a separate section, following the portion of the answer described above. Counterclaims resemble the format of a complaint.

What is a motion to dismiss?

The Motion to Dismiss A motion is a request to the court that is made within an existing lawsuit and that seeks to have the court take some action concerning that lawsuit. As of July 14, 2003, a filing fee of $45 is required to be paid when submitting a motion to the court.

What is an affidavit of facts?

This affidavit explains the facts of the case and shows that a summons with notice or summons and complaint were properly served and establishes that defendant is in default.

How to answer a summons?

There are several ways you can answer a summons: You can attempt to negotiate with the opposing party to settle the case. You can notify your intention that you will defend yourself and contest the complaint and file an answer to the complaint.

What happens when you get served with a summons?

When you are served with a summons and complaint, you are essentially put on legal notice that a lawsuit has been filed against you and you are given a chance to defend yourself. In most cases, people will answer the summons and complaint and file a defense.

What is a complaint in court?

A complaint is a legal pleading or a document containing a series of allegations typically referred to as a lawsuit. In a complaint, you’ll outline the reasons why you are suing someone and what type of remedy or relief you are demanding from the court. A summons on the other hand is a formal notice given by a civil plaintiff to ...

How to start a civil action?

You need to start a civil action by serving the defendant with a copy of the complaint and the summons on complaint. Without this initial step, your legal action is defective. If a defendant receives a complaint without a summons, then you cannot expect the defendant to show up in court on a specific date. If the defendant get summons without ...

What is a summons in court?

The summons is a notification that you are required to appear in court and take action. The complaint is a detailed statement by the plaintiff on the grounds for filing the complaint justifying the ask from the court.

How to avoid default judgment?

To avoid a default judgment, you’ll need to respond to the summons and complaint. If you are not sure how to go about it, this is the time to contact a lawyer and get legal advice or get legal representation.

1 attorney answer

The writ tolled or stopped the statute of limitations. A writ of summons is the start of legal action. A complaint may also be used to start a legal action. Either stops the statute of limitations.

Robert L. Buzzendore

The writ tolled or stopped the statute of limitations. A writ of summons is the start of legal action. A complaint may also be used to start a legal action. Either stops the statute of limitations.

Teri A. Walter

As has been pointed out, preparing a petition is more than typing the words.

Jack George Breffney Ternan

It's impossible to estimate based on the information provided. Drafting a complaint or petition involves more than merely putting words on paper. The lawyer should think through the issues in the case and determine the viable theories of recovery and the types of damages available.

Giacomo Jacques Behar

Your question is impossible to answer as presented. Contact a few litigation lawyers to present your particular set of facts and get a few estimates.

How long do you have to respond to a summons?

The summons should include a date or time period by which you must respond. Typically, you have 20 days from the date you were served with the documents to respond to the lawsuit. However, this period may specify business days, or may be extended for certain court holidays.

What is a complaint and summons?

The complaint and summons provide information on who is suing you, why you are being sued, and how long you have to respond to the lawsuit. The complaint tells the judge what the dispute is about, and what the person suing you wants from you.

What is summons in court?

The summons provides logistical details for you, including a statement of the fact that you have the right to respond to the complaint in writing within a certain amount of time. It will tell you how long you have to respond, and where you should take your written response.

What happens if you don't respond to a lawsuit?

If you don't file a written response to the lawsuit, the judge will assume that you agree with everything the plaintiff stated in the complaint. The time limit may be different depending on the type of case filed. Make sure you read your summons carefully, as it will tell you how long you have to respond.

What happens if you don't have a case number?

If the summons and complaint that you received didn't have a case number, you can't file your answer yet. You will receive notice of the case number when the plaintiff files the complaint with the court. Until then, the court will have no record of the case.

What is personal jurisdiction?

This is called personal jurisdiction. The court in the county where you live typically has personal jurisdiction. If you're being sued in your business capacity – for example, if you own a restaurant – any court in a county where you do business usually has personal jurisdiction.

How long does it take to file a motion to dismiss?

If the judge doesn't grant your motion, you have a brief period of time to file your answer – typically about 10 days.

What does it mean when you receive a summons and complaint?

If you receive a summons and complaint, this typically means that you are being sued by someone. If you fail to answer, the person suing you may be able to get a default judgment against you. This means they get whatever they are asking for in their complaint. To avoid that, you can't ignore the summons and complaint.

What is a certificate of service?

The certificate of service form is the same for every case filed in court. On the certificate of service form, write the name and address of the plaintiff (or their attorney) as it appears on your summons. This is where you'll have to deliver a copy of your answer after it's filed.

Who is Jennifer Mueller?

This article was written by Jennifer Mueller, JD. Jennifer Mueller is an in-house legal expert at wikiHow. Jennifer reviews, fact-checks, and evaluates wikiHow's legal content to ensure thoroughness and accuracy. She received her JD from Indiana University Maurer School of Law in 2006.

Do you have to pay filing fees?

Pay the filing fees if necessary. Typically, you don't have to pay any filing fees simply to answer a complaint. However, if you have a counterclaim against the person who is suing you, there may be fees involved. The court clerk will tell you how much the fees are and what method of payment is accepted.

What Is A Summons and Complaint

Examples of Summons and Complaint

  • What are some examples of summons and complaint to better understand the concept? The complaint and summons is a broad and generic term referring to any possible civil complaint and summons. Here are a few examples: 1. Summons and complaint debt collection 2. Summons and complaint child support 3. Summons and complaint eviction 4. Summons and complaint breach …
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Answer to Summons and Complaint

  • When you are served with a summons and complaint, the time starts ticking with respect to how long you have to answer. There are several ways you can answer a summons: 1. You can attempt to negotiate with the opposing party to settle the case 2. You can notify your intention that you will defend yourself and contest the complaint and file an answer to the complaint 3. You can notify …
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Avoiding A Default on Summons and Complaint

  • Once you have received a summons and complaint, you’ll notice you are given a date and time to appear before the court. If you want to avoid putting yourself in default of responding to the summons, you must either file an answer to the summons and complaint before the date indicated on the summons or appear in court in person on the day noted on t...
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Default on A Summons and Complaint

  • When you are served with a summons and complaint, you are essentially put on legal notice that a lawsuit has been filed against you and you are given a chance to defend yourself. In most cases, people will answer the summons and complaint and file a defense. What happens if you don’t answer the summons and complaint? In reality, there’s nothing forcing you to respond to a civil l…
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Takeaways

  • If you are served with a complaint and summons, you will need to react to it. Don’t set it aside and ignore it. Read the document carefully to see who is suing you, in front of what court, what’s the complaint and by what date you must respond. You should immediately look to define your strategy in responding to the summons and complaint. Are you going to contact the other party t…
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