Summons date online?

[proto]

So stressed ...

I was served a summons in person at my new address. It was dated a month prior but as I understand the need to answer within 30 days starts the day I was actually presented in person at my new address (they found me through my change of address form but sure took them a long time).

My question is how can I verify the date entered into the court? I'm in California and can't find any link on the court website for public records.

Anyone know how to verify the date listed with the courts?

Thanks!

[brokejoker]

Our summons had a signature line on the cover sheet that the sheriff serving us signed and dated. That was officially our date of service. Does your summons have that? The date with the court was the day the case was filed for us. It may have been updated after we were served but I went to the lawyer right away so I didn't check.

[proto]

Mine doesn't have any signature except the original date. Some guy knocked on door asking if I was who I am. I asked what is this about. He said I need to serve summons. I told him to put it on the chair on porch and he did and then just left. He didn't sign anything. I didn't admit to being who I was either ...

That's why I'm trying to find out what the exact date is ...

[dumpinmydebt]

I found my husbands online through the Clerk of Courts website for the city it was filed in. There was a "Case Navigator" link where I was able to search all of the cases.

We had 28 days, and it was the day we signed for the paperwork at the Post Office.

[casablanca]

Somewhere on the summons it will say whether it is a date certain appearance (as in there's an appearance date scheduled, and what that date is) or a 30 day summons (respond within 30 days of service). If you want to be really sure, go take a look at the file in the circuit clerk's office, and it will show the date of service that has to be filed by the person who served the summons.

[tcreegan]

summons

Hi proto,

The summons will have two key pieces of info: the date by which you need to respond/appear and the court in which the action was filed.

Go to that courts website and get the phone number for the clerk of the court.

This person is your best friend, they can tell you what you need to do next.
(file an answer, appear in court, serve opposing counsel, etc)

Good luck with this,

Tom in Colo

[proto]

Thanks for the replies! Feel better now.

I found this link if it helps anyone else:

http://www.sccaseinfo.org/civil.htm

(specific to Santa Clara County)

Type in case number.

Dated of serving: Aug 5
Went to 2nd lawyer today who I will definitely not be retaining.

Have an appointment with lawyer Sept 3 ... hope the filing can be done in time to avoid having to answer :-/

[tcreegan]

shop for attorneys

Hi again proto,

Went to 2nd lawyer today who I will definitely not be retaining. Have an appointment with lawyer Sept 3 ...

Good for you! The wisdom of the forum is to shop around for attorneys...some folks have gone through a half a dozen before finding a good fit.

hope the filing can be done in time to avoid having to answer :-/

if not, probably not a problem, filing an answer to a collection case in county court is pretty easy, you can usually do it yourself. Court clerk can tell you what forms to use, etc.

Hope you find a good attorney!

Tom in Colo

[dumpinmydebt]

Thanks for the replies! Feel better now.

I found this link if it helps anyone else:

http://www.sccaseinfo.org/civil.htm

(specific to Santa Clara County)

Type in case number.

Dated of serving: Aug 5
Went to 2nd lawyer today who I will definitely not be retaining.

Have an appointment with lawyer Sept 3 ... hope the filing can be done in time to avoid having to answer :-/

I had my husband answer his. Just deny everything and wait until the last day possible to answer. Answering is easy. It will buy you more time as well!