A court summons is a type of legal document that is typically used to inform a defendant(s) of the beginning of a legal proceeding that requires their presence in court. This is often accompanied by a complaint in which the defendant is required to answer. A civil summons announces a date in which the defendant(s) must either appear in court or answer the complaint to the plaintiff in writing.
Though the exact language included in a court summons may vary, these documents typically advise the defendant to seek legal help in understanding and responding to the summons. Usually, a phone number is included, providing the defendant with a contact number for getting more information about the document. A summons may also include information about the consequences of failing to show up in court or failing to respond as directed. For example, failure to attend a court hearing could lead to a default judgment in favor of the plaintiff. This means the plaintiff could win his/her case simply because the defendant did not show up or respond.
SCCO makes every attempt to serve the defendant in-hand at their last and usual place of abode or at their place of business. Most court summons can be left at their last and usual place of abode with a copy mailed the same day via US Post Mail. In some cases, a summons requires an in hand service. Some examples would be a Federal Summons, Divorce Summons, Guardianship Summons/Petition and Paternity or DNA tests.