15-1504.5.Homeowner notice to be attached to summons.

For every residential foreclosure filed, the plaintiff must attach a Homeowner Notice to the summons, printed in at least 12-point type, in both English and Spanish. The Attorney General prepares the Spanish translation and posts it online, and a notice using that translation in substantially similar form satisfies the Spanish-language requirement.

The notice itself walks a homeowner through ten points in plain terms: the right to stay in the home until a judge enters an eviction order; continued ownership until the court rules otherwise; the right to reinstate the mortgage within 90 days after receiving the summons; the right to sell, refinance, or pay off the loan during the redemption period; the right to petition for any surplus from a foreclosure sale; an invitation to call the mortgage servicer (named in bold, 14-point type) about workout options; the right to a written payoff statement, which the servicer must provide within 10 business days of a written request that includes the homeowner's name, the property address, and the loan number, with the first statement free; a reminder that the notice isn't exhaustive and doesn't replace professional advice; where to find a lawyer if the homeowner doesn't have one; and a caution to consult a lawyer, official, or housing counselor before dealing with anyone offering foreclosure help.