summons
An official legal document that tells someone they must go to court or respond to a case.
A formal legal order, usually in writing, requiring someone to appear in court, respond to a legal claim, or do something required by a court.
A formal call or request telling someone to come somewhere.
A formal or urgent call, request, or order to come to a place, attend an event, or respond to someone, especially from someone in authority.
To officially order someone to go to court by sending them a summons.
To serve someone with a summons or formally order them, by a legal summons, to appear in court.
- Base: summons
- Plural: summonses
answer a summons
1Respond to legal order
To do what a summons requires, such as going to court or replying to a legal case.
- The defendant failed to answer the summons by the deadline.
- She answered the summons by appearing in court with her lawyer.
- If you do not answer a summons, the court may enter a default judgment.
- You must answer a summons on time.
at someone's summons
1When someone calls
Because someone has formally called you or told you to come.
- At the governor's summons, officials returned to the capital for emergency talks.
- They gathered in the conference room at the CEO's summons.
- At her father's summons, Clara joined the guests in the library.
- They came at the teacher's summons.
jury summons
1Notice for jury service
A letter or notice saying you may have to serve on a jury.
- I got a jury summons in the mail for next month.
- The jury summons explained how to request a postponement.
- Ignoring a jury summons can result in penalties.
- My dad received a jury summons.
serve someone with a summons
1Legally deliver a summons
To officially give someone a legal document telling them to go to court or respond to a case.
- A process server served him with a summons at his office.
- The landlord served a summons on the tenant after months of unpaid rent.
- You must respond quickly if you are served with a summons.
- He was served with a summons.
summons and complaint
1Initial lawsuit papers
Legal papers that tell someone a lawsuit has started against them and explain the claims.
- The defendant was served with a summons and complaint at her home.
- The summons and complaint gave the company 30 days to respond.
- After receiving the summons and complaint, he contacted a lawyer.
- She received a summons and complaint.
witness summons
1Order for witness attendance
A court order telling a witness to come to court.
- The prosecutor applied for a witness summons to make him attend the trial.
- She received a witness summons requiring her to give evidence.
- A witness summons may also require a person to bring documents to court.
- He received a witness summons.