A Summons was left taped to my door . . .

[Susan]

On the top it says:
YOU ARE BEING SUED!!
THIS IS A COURT PAPER - A SUMMONS

It says I'm to appear in Civil Court within 20 days of receiving this.
But, . . the date on this is June 3 ???

So apparently "I didn't show" by no fault of my own.
Should I still go down there?

Anyone knows what happens now?
How long before they freeze my checking account?

[frogger]

There should be a date and signature as to when it was served. What is it?

[Susan]

Yes. On the last page there is signature, but that date is May 27.

Is it legal to do this? I missed the 20 day time frame for court.

[ja181]

Uhm.... find an attorney =)

[ben1381]

Have you started a bankruptcy? Filing BK stops all lawsuits.

[brokejoker]

I was told the clock starts when you are served with the papers. It doesn't matter when the law suit was filed, you have to be served and then get 20 days from service to answer. Can you call the clerk of courts? I'm surprised they "served" you by taping something to your door. Although, we didn't have to sign anything when we were served, the sheriff's officer signed the paperwork, ripped off the top copy, and handed it to me.

I'd say you have 20 days from today before they get a default judgement. Answer it ASAP so that doesn't happen!

[HHM]

Susan...the 20 days, in ALL states starts from the date you were served, so don't freak out.

At this point you have to decide what to do.
File an "answer" to buy more time.
File BK
Call the lawyer and settle, (assuming you can afford to do so).

[Susan]

I went down to court and they made a date for a hearing
in Sept. I'm hoping to file for BK in August.
I don't answer the phone, but should I start answering so I'll know
what these people are up to?
Also, someone knocked at my door today but I didn't answer.
How should I handle the door now?

[brokejoker]

I went down to court and they made a date for a hearing
in Sept. I'm hoping to file for BK in August.
I don't answer the phone, but should I start answering so I'll know
what these people are up to?
Also, someone knocked at my door today but I didn't answer.
How should I handle the door now?

I wouldn't answer the phone. They're just going to bully and threaten and make you anxious.

As far as the door, just handle it how you normally would. I don't answer the door to strangers but when we were served (twice) they were sheriff's deputies. I obviously answered the door for them stood there and waited while they signed the paperwork, made a face at recieving it, and then called my attorney.

Since you are filing in August there is really no reason to hide from the servers. That's my opinion anyway. Lawsuits stop when you file so why not know what you're up against?

[JackBondLove]

LOL! I had my domicile as an empty lot (totally legal as my previous domicile was destroyed in a disaster), so I could imagine someone trying to post a summons document on a tree.

[Bell30656]

I wasn't home when the deputy tried to serve me a few times. He would leave a calling card which I ignored. Then one day I was pulled over by a deputy. While I waiting for him to run my plates, license, etc. another deputy pulled up. The second deputy handed me a summons and told me I'd been served.

OP, if you have an answer filed you can drag this thing out for quite a while. I was served in Nov 2007 and again in Feb 2008. Neither of those two cases made it to court by the time I filed a year later.