How Do Creditors Serve You?
The typical way you are served with a lawsuit from a creditor is by hand delivery by either a constable or process server. This depends on which forum you are being sued in. You are hand delivered a summons and a complaint. Sometimes these are mailed. You should speak with a lawyer if you receive something that appears to be a lawsuit to protect your rights.
Creditors can serve you with a lawsuit when you fail to pay off a debt. A summons, or legal notice, notifies you of the lawsuit and tells you when to appear in court. If you ignore the summons, you may face a default judgment, garnishments on your wages, and even a lien on your property which can result in your having to file for bankruptcy.
When you respond to a lawsuit it is called filing an Answer with the court. If you do it on your won, you are held to the standard of a lawyer - courts usually aren’t lenient to people who represent themselves (also called pro se or pro per) — so be sure to raise any defenses you have in your Answer. If you ignore the lawsuit papers, the creditor can file a default judgment against you, which will be binding against you. Moreover, if you ignore the court summons, the court may award additional fees to the creditor, including attorney's fees and collections costs, etc.
If you’ve been served with a lawsuit, call this law firm: they do free consultations:
Ascent Law LLC
8833 S Redwood Rd Suite C
West Jordan UT 84088
(801) 676-5506
