Serve Court Papers: legal information and a practical guide to serve court papers. If you have been served with a summons or complaint, the clock starts immediately. Most courts give you a limited number of days to file a written response, and missing that deadline can lead to a default judgment against you. Read the documents for the case number, the court, and the response date. Responding on time preserves every defense you may have. Can you handle serve court papers yourself? In most situations, yes. The steps are straightforward once you know the deadlines and what evidence to keep. How much does it cost? A professional demand letter through PettyLawsuit is $29, and small claims filing fees (if you ever need them) typically run $30 to $200 and are often recoverable if you win. When you're ready, PettyLawsuit turns this into action: a professional demand letter sent by certified mail for $29, and, if it comes to that, the correct small claims forms for your state with step-by-step filing help. Most disputes settle once a formal demand letter arrives, so you may never see a courtroom.