Served with court papers?

You’ve been served with a debt lawsuit. Here’s what to do next.

Someone just handed you legal papers over a debt. It’s stressful, but you have rights and a deadline — and you have more options than most people realize. Here’s the process in plain English.

1. 1

   Don't ignore it — there's a deadline

   Being served starts a clock. In Virginia the papers are usually a "Warrant in Debt" with a return date printed on them — the date you're expected to appear or respond. Miss it and the court can enter a default judgment against you without hearing your side. Whatever you decide to do, do it before that date.

2. 2

   Read who is suing you, and for how much

   Look at the top of the papers for the plaintiff. Often it's a debt buyer — a company like LVNV Funding, Midland, or Portfolio Recovery that bought old debt for pennies, not the original bank. Note the amount claimed and the case number; you'll need both.

3. 3

   Know what they actually have to prove

   A debt buyer suing you generally has to show it really owns your specific debt (an unbroken chain of ownership from the original creditor), and prove the amount. That paperwork is often thin. You have the right to make them prove their case rather than simply agreeing to it.

4. 4

   Respond or show up — on time

   Depending on your court, responding can mean appearing on the return date, filing a written response, or asking for the plaintiff's evidence. Showing up matters: most default judgments happen simply because the person never responded.

5. 5

   Look up your own case

   You can verify everything yourself on the official court website. In Virginia, general district court cases are searchable at eapps.courts.state.va.us. Confirm the court, the return date, and that the case is real before you act on anything.

Related: DebtDefense guides · How it works