What to Do If You're Sued

Few pieces of mail land as hard as a lawsuit. The instinct is either to panic or to hope it goes away — and both make things worse. Legal proceedings run on deadlines and paperwork, so the most useful thing you can do in the first days is stay calm and take a few deliberate steps.

Do these things first

• Don't ignore it — missing a deadline can hand the other side a default judgment
• Note every date — find the deadline to respond and put it somewhere you can't miss
• Preserve everything — keep emails, documents, and records; don't delete or "tidy up"
• Get advice early — the sooner you understand the claim, the more options you have

What to avoid

A few well-meant reactions can quietly undermine your position:

• Contacting the other party directly to "sort it out" before you understand the claim
• Posting about the dispute on social media, where it can become evidence
• Signing anything or admitting fault without knowing what it means
• Assuming a small claim is too minor to take seriously

Then plan your response

Once the immediate steps are handled, you can think strategy: whether to contest, negotiate, or settle. Many disputes resolve without a trial. Because procedures and timelines vary by court and jurisdiction, this is a moment where early advice genuinely changes outcomes.