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Served Summons & Complaint

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Daniel Cohen
UpdatedSep 19, 2024
Key Takeaways:
  • A summons and complaint is an official notice of a lawsuit.
  • A defendant must respond to a summons or risk default judgment.
  • Consult with a lawyer in your state if you receive a summons.
  • Start your FREE debt assessment

I was recently served civil suit papers for a old debt I cannot afford to pay.

I was recently served civil suit papers for an old unsecured debt I cannot afford to pay. What should I do?

Although I will provide general information that will help you understand how to resolve this matter, I urge you to consult with an attorney in your state who has experience with consumer rights issues. I will explain more about a summons and complaint in just a moment.

Statute of Limitations

You mentioned this concerns an "old" debt, so I will discuss a legal concept called "statute of limitations." All states have a body of statutes in their codes of law called, "Limitations of Actions," commonly referred to as the statutes of limitations. The idea behind these laws is that we as a society have decided that we don’t want old debts hanging around forever — we want people and businesses to be able to move on with their lives without worrying about being sued.

The length of time a creditor has to sue you depends on your state of residence and the type of debt. For example, many states allow longer for creditors to file suit to collect on closed-ended consumer loans than on credit card debts. Most states give credit card issuers three to four years to file suit after default, but some states allow as many as 10 years.

Check out the Bills.com Collection Laws and Statute of Limitations page to see a list of by state. If a creditor files a lawsuit after the allowed time, the court will usually throw the case out and not allow the creditor to file suit again (called dismissed with prejudice).

However, you must raise the issue of expired statute of limitations in a written response to the lawsuit, or else the court will not know that the statute of limitations has expired. The judge will not make the statute of limitations for you.

The periods vary from state to state. See the Bills.com article Which Statute of Limitations Applies to Your Situation if you have a question about which state statute of limitations the court may follow.

Remember: The clock running out on a statute of limitations does not mean a creditor may not sue you (in most states). It means if a lawsuit is filed you should have an strong defense against the lawsuit if you raise the defense.

You must take action by either going to court or hiring an attorney to do so. Also, keep in mind that the passage of the SOL does not prevent a creditor from calling you to collect on the debt; it simply provides you a defense in court if the creditor files suit.

Summons and Complaint

The civil suit papers you refer to in your question are frequently called a Summons and Complaint. The summons, which should be the first page of the documents you received from the court, should state the time period in which you have to file a response to the complaint with your local courts. If you decide that you would like to respond to the complaint, the court clerk should be able to provide you with the necessary forms.

If you do not have a statute of limitations defense, I recommend you attempt to resolve this debt with the creditor or the creditor’s attorney before they take any further collection action. If you obtain a fairly sizable portion of the balance, the creditor may be willing to settle the debt.

For example, if you can offer 40% or 50% of the outstanding balance in a lump-sum payment, the creditor may be willing to forgive the remaining balance and dismiss the court case. Contact the creditor’s attorney to discuss settlement of the debt.

If you don't have a lump sum to settle the debt, the creditor may be willing to accept monthly payments to stop further collection activity, but will probably not dismiss the case against you. The creditor will want to obtain a judgment against you just in case you do not make your scheduled monthly payments. Again, contact the creditor’s attorney to discuss possible repayment plans.

If you do not resolve this matter, the creditor will likely obtain a judgment and proceed to attempt to collect on the judgment. Depending on the state you live in, judgment execution could include wage garnishment, bank levies, and property liens, and other actions. (See Collections Advice for more information about collections.)

I encourage you to consult with an attorney to discuss the implications of a judgment against you, and what is the best course of action to resolve the account. Even if you think you have a statute of limitations defense, your best course of action is to seek representation. (See How to Answer a Summons & Complaint for general information.)

You Cannot Afford an Attorney

If you cannot afford an attorney, contact your country bar association, and ask for information on reaching the organization in your area that provides legal aid to low- and no-income people.

Make an appointment with that organization, and bring all of the documentation you have regarding the debt and the summons and complaint to that meeting. If you think you have a statute of limitations defense, mention that to the attorney or paralegal in your meeting. Make a plan of action with the attorney or paralegal, and be sure to follow through with the plan.

For more information about debt, and for debt help resources, I encourage you to visit the Bills.com debt help page.

I hope this information helps you Find. Learn & Save.

Best,

Bill

Bills.com

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Debt statistics

Mortgages, credit cards, student loans, personal loans, and auto loans are common types of debts. According to the NY Federal Reserve total household debt as of Q1 2024 was $17.69 trillion. Housing debt totaled $12.82 trillion and non-housing debt was $4.88 trillion.

According to data gathered by Urban.org from a sample of credit reports, about 26% of people in the US have some kind of debt in collections. The median debt in collections is $1,739. Student loans and auto loans are common types of debt. Of people holding student debt, approximately 8% had student loans in collections. The national Auto/Retail debt delinquency rate was 4%.

Collection and delinquency rates vary by state. For example, in Nebraska, 16% have student loan debt. Of those holding student loan debt, 5% are in default. Auto/retail loan delinquency rate is 2%.

While many households can comfortably pay off their debt, it is clear that many people are struggling with debt. Make sure that you analyze your situation and find the best debt payoff solutions to match your situation.

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10 Comments

KKim, Jul, 2023
I have a judgement against me for a car that was repode. At first it was charged off. Then they sent me an exception letter from the sheriff. I filled it out and they returned it allowing only $30k for my property. Then a month later they closed the account. I can't work due to problems. So will they still put a lien on my property??
BBetsalel Cohen, Jul, 2023
Though I'm not an attorney, I can give you a broad overview of the topic. Remember that the laws and protocols may change depending on the region, and it's always wise to seek counsel from a lawyer who can provide advice that's tailored to your case. If you have a judgment against you, the creditor may have the right to place a lien on your property in order to secure the debt. A lien is a legal claim on property that gives the creditor the right to sell the property to satisfy the debt. However, the specific rules and procedures regarding liens can vary, so it's important to consult with a legal professional who can provide advice based on the laws in your jurisdiction. If your account was closed, the creditor may not pursue a lien on your property immediately. However, they may still have the option to do so in the future if they choose to enforce the judgment. Keep in mind that the passage of time does not necessarily invalidate a judgment or the creditor's ability to enforce it. To fully understand your rights and options, it's best to consult with an attorney who can review the specific details of your case and provide personalized advice based on your circumstances. They will be able to assess the situation and provide guidance on how to proceed.
GGenevieve N Powell, May, 2023
This bill collector keeps adding on interest , he has added over 700.00 now. There is nothing about adding interest in the contract, Is this legal, should I ignore it?? Have any advice??
EElmer, Dec, 2020

Oregon law firm filed a extension on a judgement. I had thought the judgements against me were written off as earned income. It appears one was and the other was not. I was never notified I still owed this debt and was never notified of the extension judgement until my cousin who lives at an address I lived at 12 yrs ago received an envelope from this law firm . This law firm does have my current address. Why would they use an address I haven't lived at in 12 yrs and was it legal for them not to notify me that I still owed this debt?

BBetsalel Cohen, Dec, 2020

Elmer, I suggest that you contact a local attorney to discuss your specific situation.

VVicki, Sep, 2020

It's been 11 years since my divorce. My husband maxed out my credit card 18,000 dollars. I obtained this card while I was married to him. He was a heavy drug user and died after our divorce. An attorney bought the debt. I tried to give him half of the amount in a lump sum to settle the debt. He said no. So now 11 years later the debt is now 24k He has garnished my wages level my bank accounts. And taken this to court with out my knowledge. I received the court docs over this 3 day holiday. With a renewed case. How come I was not notified of this court appearance. The judge said that the time has passed for me to file a memorandum. Can they do this with out serving me for this case against me? How can I defend myself with out knowing I was taken to court. This just doesn't sound right. Motion was served on July 29th and I just got the papers yesterday August 5th Do I have any rights?

DDaniel Cohen, Sep, 2020

Vicki, I apologize for the delayed reply.

I don't think there is much you can do aside from challenge the service of process. Would you be able to present any evidence that stops the collection efforts? If not, then even if you go to the time and expense of arguing improper service, the lawyer could bring you back to court.

I agree with you that it is not right, but I am not able to offer a good way to stop the pain they can inflict. It may be worth speaking with a lawyer, to see if the action of not serving you would give you grounds to go after the lawyer or give you leverage in any way.

JJen, Jun, 2020

I received a summons on one of those loans online from 2 years ago that one applies for and it is wired to their account. It was fraudulently obtained by a roommate I had living with me and trusted that had access to these things including important documents. The police said they cannot file a charge (back when it happened) based on multiple factors and this is also my husband's family further complicating the matter. The debtor is trying to drag me to court for $3,000 and saying I will lose without a police report. Am I better to make the payments on the settlement amount of $1200 and cry about it to myself or go to court and argue this, or just ignore it as they obviously have none of my information and had to call me since they are unable to physically serve the summons (wrong address and no other information on record they can obtain)?

DDaniel Cohen, Jun, 2020

Jen, I am not a lawyer, so any comments I make are not to be taken as legal advice.

A creditor can successfully file suit against you and not serve you, if it followed the proper procedure and made the attempts that the law requires. Pursuing a legal strategy is no guarantee for success and it sounds like it involves familial complications.

If you can afford the settlement and the other party will put in writing that the settlement clears out the debt in full and ends all claims, it seems a prudent, though unfair resolution.