How will I know if a creditor takes me to court, or sues me?

Produced by Mariah Jennings-Rampsi, South Coastal Counties Legal Services, with funding from American College of Bankruptcy
Reviewed October 2019

You will know you are being sued when

  • a sheriff or constable delivers court papers to you or to someone at your home and the papers tell you about a case against you.  This is sometimes called “being served”. 
  • In small claims court cases, you can be served by certified mail. 

The papers are called a summons and complaint. See What court papers will I get?