If a person is being sued in civil court, what must be issued within 120 days?

If a person is being sued in civil court, what must be issued within 120 days?

• A. a complaint
• B. a subpoena
• C. a summons
• D. a writ

Answer: (C)

The key idea is service of process. After the plaintiff files the complaint, a summons is issued so the defendant is formally notified of the lawsuit and knows to respond. In many civil procedures, you must complete service of the summons (along with a copy of the complaint) within 120 days of filing. If service isn’t accomplished within that window, the court may dismiss the case for lack of prosecution unless there’s a valid reason. The complaint itself starts the action, but it is the summons that provides the official notice and triggers the defendant’s time to answer. Subpoenas and writs serve different purposes and do not initiate the suit with notice.

The key idea is service of process. After the plaintiff files the complaint, a summons is issued so the defendant is formally notified of the lawsuit and knows to respond. In many civil procedures, you must complete service of the summons (along with a copy of the complaint) within 120 days of filing. If service isn’t accomplished within that window, the court may dismiss the case for lack of prosecution unless there’s a valid reason. The complaint itself starts the action, but it is the summons that provides the official notice and triggers the defendant’s time to answer. Subpoenas and writs serve different purposes and do not initiate the suit with notice.