HAVE YOU BEEN SERVED? WHAT TO DO:
Has a sheriff’s deputy or special process server come to your home and handed you or a member of your family a summons with a petition attached to it? Or have you been served at work?
The first thing you need to do is not panic. Make sure you do not discuss the facts of the case with anyone else. Discussing the case with other people makes those people witnesses to the case.
Generally, in Missouri you have thirty days to respond to the petition (Kansas is generally twenty days). Do not wait until the last minute to contact an attorney. We need a little time to get the response ready to file with the Court.
You should contact an attorney immediately as you will have lots of questions. An experienced attorney can answer all of your questions.
If you have been served in a domestic relations case (divorce, paternity, modification) do not call the other party and leave a nasty voice mail. Do not text or e-mail the other party and leave an obscene/nasty text/message. This will come back to haunt you.