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Lawsuit / Summons
You've been sued. Here's what that actually means.
Being served with a lawsuit is alarming. Attorly breaks down exactly what you've been accused of, what the deadlines are, and what your realistic options look like — before you spend a dollar on legal fees.
Upload your summonsNot legal advice: This page explains, in plain language, how a legal document typically works. It is general information — not legal advice about your specific situation. If the stakes are meaningful, or a deadline is close, speak with a licensed lawyer before relying on anything you read here.
What a lawsuit actually is
A lawsuit is a formal legal action filed by one party (the plaintiff) against another (the defendant) in a court of law. When you're served with a summons and complaint, you are being notified that someone has asked a court to decide a dispute involving you — and that the court expects your response.
The paperwork you've just received is not a verdict. It is the opening move. What you do next — and how quickly — determines whether the court hears your side at all. In most jurisdictions the clock starts the moment you are served, and in every jurisdiction the deadline is short enough that reading the document the day it arrives is a good idea.
The documents use dense, formal language on purpose: to satisfy procedural rules. That same density is what makes them hard to act on. Attorly reads the complaint, identifies the claims, pulls out the deadlines, and tells you — in plain English — what you are actually being asked to respond to.
How it works
Get clarity on any legal document in three steps
Step 1
Upload your document
Drag in a PDF, Word file, or image scan. Any format, any language.
Step 2
Attorly analyzes it
Multiple AI models review your document independently — flagging risks, extracting deadlines, and identifying obligations and key terms. Independent review means nothing gets missed.
Step 3
Know exactly what to do
More than a summary — Attorly gives you a clear action plan: what matters, what to do about it, and in what order. Handle it yourself or bring a lawyer in fully prepared.
What Attorly finds in a lawsuit
We pull out the facts that actually determine what happens next.
Who is suing you and why
Attorly identifies the plaintiff, the legal claims they're making, and the amount of money or relief they're seeking.
Your response deadline
Missing a response deadline can mean an automatic judgment against you. Attorly extracts the exact date you need to act by.
Court and jurisdiction
Which court the case is filed in, what its rules are, and whether it's the right venue — all clearly explained.
Strength of the claims
Attorly flags which claims appear strong, which look weak, and what evidence you'd typically need to counter them.
Whether you need a lawyer
Not every lawsuit requires an attorney. Attorly tells you honestly how complex your case looks and what self-representation might mean.
Relief the plaintiff is requesting
Damages, injunctions, specific performance, attorneys' fees — Attorly lists every category of relief being sought so you understand the full exposure, not just the dollar figure.
Procedural posture and next court dates
Initial case management conferences, mandatory disclosures, and early motion deadlines are often buried in the filing. Attorly surfaces them in one timeline.
What to do right now
If you were served today, work through this list in order.
- 1
Upload to Attorly — know where you stand
Before you react, respond, or call anyone — start here. Upload the document and multiple AI models review it independently: claims, deadlines, risks, obligations, and your realistic options. In minutes you have a clear action plan. Most people find they can handle more than they expected — and if you do need a lawyer, you'll walk in fully prepared.
- 2
Write down the date you were served
Your response clock starts on the date of service, not the date on the documents. This single fact determines every deadline in the case.
- 3
Read the complaint, not just the summons
The summons tells you that a lawsuit exists. The complaint tells you what you are accused of. Upload both — Attorly extracts the claims for you.
- 4
Preserve evidence and stop deleting anything relevant
Emails, texts, contracts, receipts — anything related to the dispute must be preserved from this point. Deleting potentially relevant records after being served can create additional legal exposure.
- 5
Decide whether to answer, settle, or file a counterclaim
You typically have three responses: file an Answer, try to settle, or file a counterclaim. Attorly explains which one fits your situation and what each costs in time and money.
Common questions about lawsuits
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