Start with the complete summons and complaint, including attachments. Note when and how the documents arrived. Keep any court notices in the same folder. A lawyer needs to understand the procedural posture before evaluating the account.

Find the underlying agreement

Look for the contract, application, guaranty, or other document connected to the claimed obligation. Include amendments and communications discussing changes. Do not assume that a document with a familiar business name establishes every part of the claim.

Build an account timeline

Collect statements, payment confirmations, credits, and prior settlement communications. Mark the dates and amounts you dispute. If you do not recognize an account, state that clearly without guessing at missing details.

Prepare questions for counsel

Ask about the response deadline, the evidence supporting the amount, potential defenses, and the cost and scope of representation. Tell the office about prior judgments or related cases. A consultation request does not itself respond to a lawsuit.

Consider the court case and the account separately

California Courts explains that responding to a debt lawsuit and negotiating a settlement are not mutually exclusive. Reviewing the balance does not answer the court papers. Keep a separate list of court tasks and account questions so neither is overlooked.

What if I do not recognize the company suing me?

Give counsel the plaintiff's exact name and all documents connecting that company to the account. Do not fill in gaps by assuming that similar names mean the same business. Identify the original creditor as shown in your records and label any account number only by its last few digits when sending an initial overview.

Further reading

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California debt & collections

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