Receiving a summons

Eniigma

Eniigma

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Is it anything like the movies where you have to sign for it or have it personally delivered to you?

Does it just being chucked in your mailbox without anyone receiving it or acknowledging it count?

I know a guy who got one chucked in his mailbox where he is the defendant in a case he didn't even know about and was given 10 days to respond. It was delivered this week and dated over a month ago.
 
It does not have to be hand delivered, and there is no point in ignoring it. If you ignore it you are just gonna get less time to appear in court and make your case. The other person might even get a default judgement. Get it as soon as possible and give it to your lawyer. Obviously if they can't proof you have know about the situation, you can use it as an excuse, but the other person then have already had more time to prepare. Its not nice to know someone wants to take you to court, but don't fight it alone and you will be fine. Just get the best lawyer you can afford and as soon as possible. If you miss the court date (or ignored the summons) you will be given I think 2-3 weeks to make your case/defence.

The summons can even be delivered at your work place or home. As long as it is delivered somewhere where you work or stay. And they can prove you work or stay there.

10 days is the maximum time you get to RESPOND to the summons. High Court Summons of a matter of urgency will probably less. It is also a Criminal Offence to ignore a summons.
 
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Thanks guys.

Will pass it on and tell him to find a lawyer.
 
Search for the Rules of the Magistrates Court. Iirc rule 9 deals with service of court docs including summons. High court also has its own rules if that is where summons came from.

There are many ways in which summons can be served: in person (no signature necessary), on anyone over 16 at your home or place of work, at your domicilium citandi et executandi (which can be a PO Box) and even by affixing the summons to the gate of your property. Service can even be via email or advertising in the papers if the magistrate declared that to be satisfactory.

Please don’t ever ignore summons as that can lead to default judgment being issued against you by the court.
 
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