Title 5. Jurisdiction and Service of Process · Chapter 3. Summons · Last amended 2026 · Last verified July 28, 2026
In one sentenceSection 412.20 sets what a California summons must contain — the court, the parties, a 30-day deadline to respond, a default warning, a bolded advice-of-counsel notice, and a bolded bilingual notice at the top — and lets a Judicial Council-approved form satisfy the requirement.
(a)Except as otherwise required by statute, a summons shall be directed to the defendant, signed by the clerk and issued under the seal of the court in which the action is pending, and it shall contain:
(1)The title of the court in which the action is pending.
(2)The names of the parties to the action.
(3)A direction that the defendant file with the court a written pleading in response to the complaint within 30 days after summons is served on the defendant.
(4)A notice that, unless the defendant so responds, their default will be entered upon application by the plaintiff, and the plaintiff may apply to the court for the relief demanded in the complaint, which could result in garnishment of wages, taking of money or property, or other relief.
(5)The following statement in boldface type: "You may seek the advice of an attorney in any matter connected with the complaint or this summons. Such attorney should be consulted promptly so that your pleading may be filed or entered within the time required by this summons.
(6)The following introductory legend at the top of the summons above all other matter, in boldface type, in English and Spanish: "Notice! You have been sued. The court may decide against you without your being heard unless you respond within 30 days. Read information below.
(b)Each county may, by ordinance, require that the legend contained in paragraph (6) of subdivision (a) be set forth in every summons issued out of the courts of that county in any additional foreign language, if the legend in the additional foreign language is set forth in the summons in the same manner as required in that paragraph.
(c)A summons in a form approved by the Judicial Council is deemed to comply with this section.
(d)For actions regarding residential property brought pursuant to Section 1161, the Judicial Council shall, by January 1, 2027, create for mandatory use a single summons form that includes the information described in paragraphs (3) to (6), inclusive, of subdivision (a) in English, Spanish, Chinese, Tagalog, Vietnamese, and Korean. The Judicial Council shall publish this form on its internet website.
Plain-English Summary
Section 412.20 fixes the content every California summons must carry. Subdivision (a) requires the summons to be directed to the defendant, signed by the clerk, and issued under the court’s seal, containing: the title of the court, the names of the parties, a direction that the defendant file a written response within 30 days after service, and a notice that failure to respond lets the plaintiff obtain a default and apply for the relief demanded — which could mean garnishment of wages, taking of money or property, or other relief. It must also carry, in boldface type, a statement advising the defendant to seek an attorney’s advice promptly, and a bolded introductory legend at the very top, in both English and Spanish, warning that the defendant has been sued and that the court may decide against them without a hearing unless they respond within 30 days.
Subdivision (b) lets a county add the same legend in an additional foreign language by ordinance, so long as it is presented the same way as the English and Spanish versions. Subdivision (c) provides that a summons in a form approved by the Judicial Council satisfies this section — in practice, this is how nearly every California summons is prepared. Subdivision (d) looks ahead: by January 1, 2027, the Judicial Council must create a single mandatory summons form for residential unlawful detainer actions under § 1161, carrying the required content in English, Spanish, Chinese, Tagalog, Vietnamese, and Korean, and publish it on its website.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many days does a defendant have to respond to a California summons?
Section 412.20(a)(3) requires the summons to direct the defendant to file a written response within 30 days after the summons is served.
What happens if the defendant does not respond in time?
Subdivision (a)(4) requires the summons to warn that the defendant’s default will be entered on the plaintiff’s application, letting the plaintiff seek the relief demanded in the complaint, which could include garnishment of wages or taking of money or property.
Does a California summons have to be in more than one language?
Yes. Subdivision (a)(6) requires the introductory legend at the top of the summons to appear in both English and Spanish, in boldface type, and subdivision (b) lets a county add an additional language by ordinance.
Can I use the Judicial Council’s standard summons form instead of drafting my own?
Yes. Subdivision (c) provides that a summons in a form approved by the Judicial Council is deemed to comply with this section.
Is there a new multilingual summons form coming for eviction cases?
Yes. Subdivision (d) requires the Judicial Council to create, by January 1, 2027, a mandatory single summons form for residential property actions under § 1161, in English, Spanish, Chinese, Tagalog, Vietnamese, and Korean.
Amendment History
Amended by Stats 2025 ch 344 (AB 863),s 1, eff. 1/1/2026. Amended by Stats. 1989, Ch. 1105, Sec. 6.
Source & verification. Section text is reproduced verbatim from
the Deering's California Codes Annotated / vLex. Enacted by the California Legislature.
Last verified July 28, 2026.
· Official source
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