Receiving Court papers can be unsettling but ignoring them is usually the worst response. The documents should be reviewed immediately so that you understand what has been claimed and what deadline applies.
Check the claim details.
Confirm the parties, claim number, Court, date of issue and the Particulars of Claim. Read the allegations carefully and identify anything that is factually wrong or incomplete.
Understand the response options.
Depending on the type of claim and how it was served, you may need to acknowledge service, file a Defence, admit all or part of the claim, or take another procedural step.
Deadlines matter.
The time for responding can be short. Diarise the relevant date immediately and do not assume that contacting the claimant informally suspends the Court timetable.
Preserve your evidence.
Keep relevant contracts, messages, photographs, invoices and other records. If you intend to dispute the claim, those documents may become important later.
Get help early where necessary.
If jurisdiction, limitation, service, parties or another technical issue arises, obtain appropriate advice before taking a step that may affect your position.
