If you are served with a Summons and Unlawful Detainer complaint:
- You typically have five days after the summons is served on you to file a response with the court. The response must be in proper legal form if you want the court to hear your case. The Unlawful Detainer Answer Packet (PKT-021) lists the forms used to answer an unlawful detainer matter. Forms are available in the Civil Business Office for a nominal fee or may be printed from the Judicial Council website.
- If you do not file your response on time, you may lose the case, you may be evicted, and your wages, money, and property may be taken without further warning from the court.
- There is a fee to file a response, unless you are an indigent person qualifying for a waiver of court fees. If you think you may qualify for a fee waiver, you may obtain a Request to Waive Court Fees (FW-001) to complete and submit with your response.
For more information and resources may be able to assist you, please refer to the Notice That You Have Been Sued that was mailed to you at the time of case initiation.