Summons With Notice

A summons with notice or summons and complaint must be served within 120 days of filing with the County Clerk. After service of process, the person who served the papers must fill out a statement, called an affidavit of service, which is sworn to and signed in front of a notary.

The complaint describes the plaintiff's case. A summons with notice is a type of summons. The summons with notice is not served with the complaint. It contains all of the information described above for the summons, plus a brief description of the type of case and the relief the plaintiff is asking the court to grant.

The Defendant (the husband or wife who the Plaintiff wants to divorce) must be told of the divorce case in person. This is done by delivering the "Summons With Notice" or the "Summons and Complaint" and other papers to the Defendant personally. This is called service.

Read the summons and make sure you know the date you must answer by. Read the complaint carefully. Write your answer. Sign and date the answer. Make copies for the plaintiff and yourself. Mail a copy to the plaintiff. File your answer with the court by the date on the summons.

Provide the name of the court at the top of the Answer. You can find the information on the summons. List the name of the plaintiff on the left side. Write the case number on the right side of the Answer. Address the Judge and discuss your side of the case. Ask the judge to dismiss the case.