Before you start
Be prepared for the time and effort of a lawsuit
To sue someone, you'll need to learn about the law and follow court rules, even if you're not a lawyer. There are freelegal resourcesto help.
A lawsuit can last at least a year, if not longer. During that time you and the other side often send court papers back and forth, asking the other side to turn over evidence or the judge to make a decision about something. If youfile an Answer, but then ignore your next steps, you may lose your case and even owe money to the other side if they hired a lawyer.
Check out a guide from the Sacramento County Law Libraryforresponding to a lawsuit. Much of the information applies to every county in California. Or contact your local law library for help in your county.
Expect to get legal documents in the mail. Once you file your Answer, watch for documents in the mail from the court and the other side (plaintiff). If you ignore these or miss a deadline, you can lose your case. If you move, let the court and plaintiff know your new address.
There is a deadline to file your Answer form
You must fill out an Answer, serve the plaintiff, and file your Answer form with the court. Generally, this is due within 30 days after you were served.
Ifyou don’t,the plaintiff can ask for adefault. If there's a default, the court won't let you fileanAnswerand can decide the case without you.
If you received the Complaint more than 30 days ago, check with the court to find out if the plaintiff got a default.If there isn’t a default, you can still file anAnswer.
