what can i do when i am being sued and cannot afford an attorney

As soon as you become aware of a potential lawsuit, even if you have not yet been sued, it is a good idea to seek legal advice. If you cannot afford an attorney of your own, contact a local advocacy group or legal clinic to see if you qualify for free or low-cost services.

Full Answer

Do I need a lawyer if I have not been sued?

Take Action Quickly. 1) When served with a lawsuit in Arizona, you may have at little as 20 days in a civil action which to file a responsive pleading, so don't wait, or else a default judgment could ensue. 2) Consider contacting an attorney who offers free initial consultations; 3) If you will be representing yourself, file either a Motion to Dismiss (not favored in Arizona) or file an Answer.

What should I do if I'm being sued?

Mar 03, 2009 ·

How to respond to a complaint if you are sued?

What happens if you are successfully sued in a civil case?

I am being sued and cannot afford an attorney. How can I submit a written answer to the Plaintiffs original petition? I also don't have transportation to appear in court. I want to pay the debt off, but need to make some type of arrangements that …

What is it called when you can't afford a lawyer?

When a court decides someone is "indigent" - with few assets and no funds to pay an attorney - generally either a private lawyer will be appointed by the court and paid with county funds, or a public defender program will be appointed to represent the person.

How do you stop someone from suing you?

Ten common sense ways to avoid being suedMaintain good communications. ... Avoid giving false expectations. ... Make the client make the hard decisions. ... Document your advice and the client's decisions. ... Don't initiate hostilities against the client. ... Avoid, or handle with care, the borderline personality client.More items...

What happens if someone sues you and you have no money?

You can sue someone even if they have no money. The lawsuit does not rely on whether you can pay but on whether you owe a certain debt amount to that plaintiff. Even with no money, the court can decide that the creditor has won the lawsuit, and the opposite party still owes that sum of money.Dec 9, 2021

How do I deal with being sued?

Step 1: Review the case with an attorney.Step 2: Inform your insurance provider of the complaint.Step 3: Decide how to proceed and respond to the complaint.Step 4: Find a defense attorney (if you don't have one)During and after the case.Most common types of business lawsuits.Business lawsuit FAQs.More items...

What to do if you have not been sued?

As soon as you become aware of a potential lawsuit, even if you have not yet been sued, it is a good idea to seek legal advice. If you cannot afford an attorney of your own, contact a local advocacy group or legal clinic to see if you qualify for free or low-cost services.

What happens if you are sued?

Keep in mind that if you are successfully sued and the court issues a judgment against you, you may be forced to pay a significant amount of money and may risk damage to your credit rating. For this reason, you may wish to attempt to settle the lawsuit before actually going to court.

What to do if you do nothing in a lawsuit?

If you do nothing, the plaintiff can – and probably will! – ask the court for a default judgment. You may have other options as well. The best way to evaluate your options is to speak to a lawyer. An attorney might be able to identify defenses that apply to you or even help you settle your case out of court.

What is an answer in a lawsuit?

An answer is your opportunity to respond to the complaint’s factual allegations and legal claims. It also allows you to assert "affirmative defenses," facts or legal arguments you raise to defeat plaintiff’s claim. Filing an answer prevents the plaintiff from getting a default judgment against you.

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

Overview. If you have received a summons and complaint, that probably means you are being sued. Being sued can be one of life’s most stressful experiences. Although it might be tempting to ignore a summons and complaint, ignoring a lawsuit does not make it go away.

How long do you have to respond to a lawsuit?

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.

What is a counterclaim?

Compulsory counterclaims. If your claim arises out of the same transaction that underlies the plaintiff's claim , you have a “compulsory counterclaim.”. If you do not file a counterclaim in plaintiff’s case, you will lose the right to file a separate lawsuit.

Why do you file a motion to dismiss?

File a motion to dismiss or for a more definite statement. There are a number of reasons why you might file a motion to dismiss, including: Lack of jurisdiction. In other words, the court does not have jurisdiction over you. Click to visit Deciding Where to File for more information about jurisdiction.

What to do if you have been served with a summons?

Learn what to do if you’ve been served with a summons and complaint, including how much time you have to respond and what options might be available to you. Remember that if you do nothing, the person suing you can ask the court for a money judgment against you!

How long does a creditor have to file a lawsuit?

If the creditor is outside of this limit, then you can have your case dismissed. Usually, a creditor has two or three years to bring a lawsuit, but in some states, they have as long as six years. Additionally, some states have different statutes of limitations for debt-related lawsuits.

What happens if you ignore a complaint?

If you simply ignore the complaint by not replying with a formal answer, your inaction may result in a default judgment against you. This means they will find you guilty, and the judge will decide your penalty.

What to include in a claim?

Your answer typically will include: 1 Admission or denial of the claim 2 Any legal defenses 3 Potential counterclaims 4 Your signature

How to get money faster?

You usually have the options to: Negotiate for less money owed. Settle for a lump sum. Set up a payment plan. These options may depend on the original contract and who is in charge of the debt management now.

Can a creditor sue you for a collection?

You may be sued by a creditor even if you have offered to make small payments on your balance or to cooperate with a collection agency. But creditors typically do not sue debtors who are at least making a good faith effort to repay a debt, so this is a less likely situation.

Do creditors have to attach a copy of a written contract to a complaint?

Also, creditors are required by law to attach a copy of the account or written contract to the complaint, or else explain in the complaint why it is not attached. If the creditor or collector cannot produce the proper documentation, you may ask the court to dismiss the lawsuit.