Summons
Judicial Council of California · Civil
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Last updated July 21, 2026
A Summons is an official court document that tells a defendant they are being sued and must respond to the case within a specific time period, usually 30 days. A plaintiff (the person filing the lawsuit) needs this form to legally notify the defendant that they must appear in court or answer the charges against them.
This form must be printed and filled by hand, or opened in Adobe Acrobat.