For many people, being cared for automatically generates a negative connotation, generating feelings of caution and stress. Typically, when someone is served, they are served documents related to a lawsuit, and they are documents that must legally be in their hands. These documents generally tell someone that they must appear in court or that they must respond to or at least understand that a legal matter is taking place that may involve you. When someone is served with papers, they often assume they are being sued. Because of this, it is clear why people react negatively when served. It is also obvious why those who hand over the roles, also known as the person who is serving someone, are seen as the villain. The messenger in this situation is often disliked and blamed for the problem at hand. It is important to remember not to blame this person, but to take the necessary steps to protect yourself.
To be more specific, when notified, a person should make sure not to ignore or avoid the legal documents that were given to them. It is quite possible that upon receiving these documents, a person was sued, so ignoring these documents could result in a judgment being entered against them. If this happens, your credit could be ruined and your bank accounts and assets seized. Another consequence of ignoring these documents could be incarceration. A lawsuit can be defined as a claim for damages (money) owed by the defendant. This can be due to a variety of legal reasons and should be addressed immediately.
Here are some tips on what to do and what not to do when receiving service. One of the most important things to do is make sure that you don’t tell the process server about the incident, and you also need to make sure that you don’t contact the person who initially sent you the documents. The same goes for the person who is suing you: minimal contact is best. Another good thing to do when you receive the notice is to make sure you save all your documents and make sure they are kept neat and as close as they were when you first received them. Also, if someone leaves you papers or tries to serve you legal papers, it is better to save and keep them safe rather than ignore them. Again, one thing you should not do when receiving legal documents is ignore them – this will not help your case! Finally, the last time is to make sure you consult an experienced and worthy attorney; protecting your rights in situations like these is vital.
As you can see, it is important to speak to a legal professional when you are being cared for, as many people in this situation are scared and do not know what to do next.