TYPES OF PROCESS SERVED

SUMMONS:   Civil summons is a written notification to a party named in a lawsuit directing the party to appear and defend or answer before the issuing court prior to a specified time. Failure to appear or answer may allow judgment to be entered against the non-responsive party in favor of the plaintiff.

COMPLAINT: A complaint is a statement of the jurisdiction of the court, the allegations constituting the cause of action, and a demand for judgment. This is the first or initial pleading on the part of the plaintiff.

SUBPOENA: A subpoena is a written court order requiring the attendance of the person named in the subpoena at a specified time and place for the purpose of being questioned under oath concerning a particular matter which is the subject of an investigation, proceeding, or lawsuit.

SUBPOENA DUCES TECUM: A subpoena duces tecum is specific form of a subpoena issued by a court ordering the parties named to appear and produce tangible evidence (documents or otherwise) for use at a hearing or trial.

INTERROGATORY: Interrogatories (also known as Requests for Further Information) are a formal set of written questions propounded by one litigant and required to be answered by an adversary, in order to clarify matters of evidence and help to determine in advance what facts will be presented at any trial in the case.

GARNISHMENT: A garnishment is a means of collecting a monetary judgment against a defendant by ordering a third party (the garnishee) to pay money, otherwise owed to the defendant, directly to the plaintiff.

FED/COMPLAINT: Forcible Entry and Detainer (F.E.D.) begins the process for eviction. A Summons and a blank Answer form are served with the Complaint, along with the notice given to the tenant (Notice to Vacate).