Q: Not served in a debt lawsuit in Duval County, Florida. What happens?
A debt collector has filed a lawsuit against me in Duval County, Florida. A process server left a card, but I have not been served or contacted them. What happens in this situation?
A:
If a debt collector filed a lawsuit against you in Duval County and a process server left a card but didn’t actually hand you anything, it may feel like nothing has happened yet. But you need to be really careful. Just because you don’t believe you were properly served doesn’t mean the court won’t move forward anyway.
You should look up the docket for your case on the Duval County clerk’s website and check it regularly. It’s possible they’ll file something claiming they served you, even if you don’t agree with that. They might claim they served someone at your home, or that they served you in another way, and if you don’t catch that, the next step could be a default judgment against you.
So even if you haven’t been contacted or think you weren’t technically served, don’t ignore the case. You’d be well served to keep an eye on the docket every day and talk to an attorney about your options. The risk of a default judgment is real, and once that happens, it’s a lot harder to undo.
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