Being served with a civil lawsuit in California is stressful, but you have a limited window to protect yourself. Ignoring it leads to a default judgment against you. Here is how to respond.
Step 1: Note your deadline
You generally have 30 days from the date you were served to file a written response with the court. Mark it immediately.
Step 2: Read the complaint and summons
Identify who is suing, the causes of action, and what they want. The summons tells you the court and case number you must respond to.
Step 3: Choose your response
The most common response is an Answer — a general or specific denial plus your affirmative defenses. In some cases you may file a demurrer or motion to quash instead. If you have your own claims, you can file a cross-complaint.
Step 4: File and serve
File your Answer with the court (pay the first-appearance fee or request a fee waiver) and serve a copy on the other party, then file a proof of service.
Step 5: Prepare for the case
Gather evidence and watch for case-management and discovery deadlines. Many cases settle once you actively defend.
How Curbside Legal helps
We prepare your Answer, affirmative defenses, cross-complaints, and supporting declarations — court-ready and on time. See civil litigation pricing or start your intake.
Curbside Legal is a legal document preparation service, not a law firm, and does not provide legal advice. Deadlines are strict — act quickly.