What is a civil summons in nc?

A civil summons in North Carolina is a legal document that is delivered to an individual or business informing them that a lawsuit has been filed against them. The summons usually includes the name and contact information of the plaintiff, the case number, and the court location where the lawsuit was filed. The defendant must respond to the summons within a certain period of time, usually 30 days, by either filing an answer or other response with the court or face a default judgment being entered against them. In North Carolina, the summons must be served personally by a process server, sheriff or certified mail, return receipt requested. Failure to respond to a civil summons can result in a default judgment being entered against the defendant, meaning they lose the case by default.