Summons and Service Packet
Drafts a complete initial filing package to commence a personal injury civil action and effectuate valid service on all defendants.
Prerequisites
Gather before drafting:
- Complaint/allegations — factual basis, parties, claims, damages
- Party identification — full legal names, addresses, entity types, citizenship/domicile
- Jurisdictional facts — basis (federal question, diversity, state), amount in controversy, venue
- Target court — local rules reviewed for filing requirements and mandatory forms
Packet Components
Draft all components in filing order with identical captions across every document.
1. Civil Cover Sheet
Include: case caption (exact party names), nature of suit code, jurisdictional basis (28 U.S.C. § 1331/1332 or state), special designations (class action/mass tort if applicable), filing fee amount, attorney info (name, bar number, firm, contact), and e-filing instructions.
2. Summons (one per defendant)
Each summons must contain: court name/address, space for case number, party names matching complaint, command to appear, response deadline, default judgment warning (verbatim statutory text if prescribed), and clerk signature/seal line.
Response deadlines: Federal = 21 days (FRCP 12(a)(1)(A)(i)); state = typically 30 days [VERIFY]; government = often 60 days (FRCP 12(a)(2)-(3)).
Use court-prescribed summons form if jurisdiction mandates a specific template.
3. Complaint Shell
Structure in this order:
- Caption — identical to summons
- Jurisdictional Allegations — subject matter jurisdiction (statutory cite), personal jurisdiction, venue (28 U.S.C. § 1391 or state equivalent); for diversity: each party's citizenship, amount > $75,000
- Parties — each in separate numbered paragraph with entity type, incorporation state/PPB, or domicile
- Factual Allegations — chronological numbered paragraphs; meet Twombly/Iqbal plausibility standard (federal); FRCP 9(b) particularity for fraud counts
- Counts — separate heading per cause of action; incorporate prior paragraphs by reference; cite statutory/common law basis; match elements to facts
- Prayer for Relief — compensatory damages (specific or "exceeds $75,000"), punitive damages if permitted, pre/post-judgment interest, costs and fees (cite basis), equitable relief
- Jury Demand — include unless waiver is intended
- Signature Block — attorney name, bar number, firm, address, phone, email
Attach exhibits labeled sequentially with cover sheets.
4. Service Instructions
Who may serve: Non-party adult age 18+ (FRCP 4(c)(2)) — process server, sheriff/marshal, or authorized adult. Never plaintiff or plaintiff's counsel.
Methods by defendant type:
| Defendant Type | Primary | Alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Individual | Personal delivery | Substituted service at dwelling + mail; agent |
| Corporation | Registered agent (check SOS) | Officer, managing/general agent |
| Out-of-state | Long-arm statute + minimum contacts | Certified mail; SOS as statutory agent; Hague Convention (foreign) |
| Government | Designated official per statute | Strict compliance required; verify admin claim prerequisites |
Evasion/cannot locate: Document diligent search in affidavit, move for alternative service (publication, posting, court-authorized email), obtain court order first.
5. Proof of Service Affidavit
Required fields: person served (identity, address, physical description), date/time/location, method (personal/substituted/agent/mail), documents served, relationship of recipient to defendant (if substituted), narrative of encounter, server info (name, address, license number), signed under penalty of perjury.
File per local rule deadline; must file before seeking default.
6. Supplementary Documents
Include if required: FRCP 7.1 corporate disclosure (federal diversity), fee waiver/IFP application, ADR notice, case management statement, attorney appearance form, CAFA notice (AIC > $5M).
Filing Checklist
- Civil cover sheet (copies per local rule)
- Complaint + exhibits (original + 1 per defendant + attorney copy)
- Summons per defendant (original + 1 per defendant)
- Corporate disclosure (FRCP 7.1) if applicable
- Filing fee or fee waiver (verified amount)
- Supplementary notices as required
- E-filing: PDFs OCR-enabled, within size limits
Critical Rules
- Caption consistency — identical party names, spelling, and order across all documents; mismatches cause rejections
- Service window — federal: serve within 90 days of filing (FRCP 4(m)) or face dismissal without prejudice
- Local forms — many courts mandate specific summons templates; verify before drafting
- Page formatting — check local rules for numbering, binding restrictions, pagination
- Preserve originals — keep original proof of service in attorney file; file copy with court
- [VERIFY] tag — mark all statutory citations with [VERIFY] when jurisdiction-specific rule numbers are uncertain