A paper prepared by the plaintiff and issued by a court that informs the defendant that she has been sued. The summons requires that the defendant file a response with the court – or in many small claims courts, simply appear in person on an appointed day – within a given time period or risk losing the case under the terms of a default judgment.
This site contains general legal information but does not constitute professional legal advice for your particular situation. Persuing this glossary does not create an attorney-client or legal adviser relationship. If you have specific questions, please consult a qualified attorney licensed in your jurisdiction.
This glossary post was last updated: 29th March, 2024.
To help you cite our definitions in your bibliography, here is the proper citation layout for the three major formatting styles, with all of the relevant information filled in.
- Page URL:https://dlssolicitors.com/define/summons/
- Modern Language Association (MLA):Summons. dlssolicitors.com. DLS Solicitors. April 18, 2024 https://dlssolicitors.com/define/summons/.
- Chicago Manual of Style (CMS):Summons. dlssolicitors.com. DLS Solicitors. https://dlssolicitors.com/define/summons/ (accessed: April 18, 2024).
- American Psychological Association (APA):Summons. dlssolicitors.com. Retrieved April 18, 2024, from dlssolicitors.com website: https://dlssolicitors.com/define/summons/