Home Checklists Served with a summons? Your checklist Served with a summons? Your checklist The first things to do after you're served with court papers in New York. The deadline to respond is short, so start today.
How to use it Tick what you already have, then print or copy the list; your ticks are remembered in this browser. “Required” items are needed by law or by the process; “Recommended” and “Optional” ones help depending on your situation.
Every page of the summons and complaint (or notice of petition), kept together Required The date and the way you were served — handed to you, left with someone else, or mailed Required You generally have 20 days to answer if the papers were handed to you personally, or 30 days after service is complete if served another way The court, county and index number on the papers Required You need them to file your answer in the right place Your answer, filed on time — in writing, or in person at the clerk's office where the court allows it Required If you don't answer, the other side can ask for a default judgment Every court date written down, and a plan to be there Required Your possible defenses listed: you don't owe it, wrong amount, too old, identity theft, papers not properly served Recommended Some defenses, like improper service, can be lost if you don't raise them in your answer Copies of documents that support your side: receipts, payments, letters, contracts Recommended Proof that your answer was filed and a copy went to the other side (or a clerk's stamped copy) Recommended A call to legal aid, a court Help Center or a volunteer lawyer program Recommended Free help is available for many kinds of cases, especially debt and housing A fee waiver request if you can't afford court fees Optional 0 of 10 checked Your ticks are kept in this browser only.
This checklist is general information, not legal advice. If a case is already in court or a deadline is close, talk to a lawyer or legal aid.