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North Carolina Civil Summons

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Defendant's First Set of Interrogatories Propounded to the Plaintiff With Request for Production

Name of Defendant:

Address:

City, State, Zip:

Phone:

IN THE SUPERIOR COURT FOR

COUNTY, STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA

, Petitioner/Plaintiff

Vs.

, Respondent/Defendant

DEFENDANT'S FIRST SET OF INTERROGATORIES PROPOUNDED TO THE PLAINTIFF WITH REQUEST FOR PRODUCTION

CASE NO.

COMES NOW ("Defendant") and propounds the following interrogatories to ("Plaintiff") pursuant to North Carolina Rules, and other applicable provisions of said Rules, and gives notice that each and every interrogatory or section thereof is to be answered separately, in writing, under oath of the aforesaid Plaintiff within the legal number of days of the date of service hereof, and further gives notice that these interrogatories and request for production of documents and things are deemed to be continuing, and, that if different or additional information is received by Plaintiff after answers hereto are submitted and filed, same is to be provided to this Defendant in writing. Production requests are also made pursuant to the rules of the State of North Carolina. Defendant requests that Production of documents be made on the same date as the date Answers to Interrogatories are due and shall be made to Defendant at the following address: .

INTERROGATORY NO. 1

State your full name, social security number, date of birth, residence address, and telephone number.

INTERROGATORY NO. 2

Please attach to your answer to these interrogatories copies of your income tax returns and W-2 forms for the past three years.

INTERROGATORY NO. 4

State your total income to date since , and attach to your answers copies of your last five paycheck stubs.

INTERROGATORY NO. 5

List all assets presently owned by you. Give a complete and detailed listing. For each asset, give its nature, description, location, date of acquisition, present market value, and the name and address of any person that you hold same with jointly.

INTERROGATORY NO. 6

List the name, place of employment and telephone number of any person or persons who are presently residing at the address which you listed as your residence in your answer to Interrogatory No. 1.

INTERROGATORY NO. 7

If you rent the place in which you live, give the name of your landlord, his or her address and telephone number.

INTERROGATORY NO. 8

Outline in detail your monthly living expenses.

INTERROGATORY NO. 9

List all other income received by you other than from your employment, stating the source and the amount.

INTERROGATORY NO. 10

If you claim to have grounds for divorce against the Defendant, please state all circumstances, facts, and events, upon which you base such grounds.

INTERROGATORY NO. 11

What safety deposit boxes do you currently maintain whether alone or jointly held? For each box, state the name and address of the bank, the box number, the name in which said box is maintained, the name and address of each and every person having access thereto, the contents of each box, and the date each box was acquired.

INTERROGATORY NO. 12

What bank accounts, if any, do you presently maintain, whether alone or jointly held? For each account, state whether active, inactive or closed, the style of the account, the name of the bank or banks, the name and address of each and every person authorized to make withdrawals therefrom, the account number, and whether checking or savings.

INTERROGATORY NO. 13

Do third parties hold any property in trust for you or for your benefit? If so, give full and complete particulars, including the name and address of said persons and exact descriptions and locations of property.

INTERROGATORY NO. 14

Have you ever been arrested? If so, for each occasion, state the date of the arrest, the county and state in which the arrest occurred, and the reason for such arrest.

INTERROGATORY NO. 15

Have you ever received psychiatric treatment? If so, state the physician administering same, his address and telephone number, and the date or dates of the treatment.

INTERROGATORY NO. 16

Are you taking any drugs, and the amount of money you spend each month for said drugs.

INTERROGATORY NO. 17

Do you use any type of drugs which are not prescribed by a physician (i.e., marijuana, heroin, cocaine)? If so, state the type of drug or drugs which you use, the place in which you exercise such use, when you began using said drug or drugs, and the amount of money you spend each month for said drugs.

INTERROGATORY NO. 18

Do you consume alcoholic beverages on a regular basis? If so, state the type of alcoholic beverage which you consume, and the amount of money you spend each month on said alcoholic beverages.

INTERROGATORY NO. 19

Are you addicted to alcohol or drugs of any kind? If so, specify what it is you are addicted to and when you became addicted to same.

INTERROGATORY NO. 20

Have you ever had sexual relations with anyone other spouse during the course of your marriage? If so, name and address of each individual, and the time of each sexual encounter.

INTERROGATORY NO. 21

State whether or not you have provided any banks or other lending institutions with financial statements during the past 24 months. For each such occurrence, state the names and addresses of the banks or lending institutions, and the date said financial statement was provided.

INTERROGATORY NO. 22

For each person you shall call as a witness at the trial of this case, please state: the witness's name and address, whether employed by you, and the subject matter to which the witness shall testify. Prior to trial, please supplement your answer to this interrogatory.

INTERROGATORY NO. 23

For each person you allege to be an occurrence witness of any of the things and matters sought to be proved by you at the trial of this case, please state: the witness's name and address, whether employed by you, and the subject matter to which the witness shall testify. Prior to trial, please supplement your answers to this interrogatory.

INTERROGATORY NO. 24

For each person whom you expect to call as an expert witness at the trial, providing his name, address and telephone number, please state:

a. The subject matter in which identified is expected to testify.

b. The substance of the facts and which each expert is expected to testify.

c. Give a summary of the grounds for each person set out above.

d. State the educational background, educational training, and experience of each person above which qualifies him as an expert, and identify the field of such expertise.

INTERROGATORY NO. 25

For each document or other item you shall offer as an exhibit at the trial of this case, please state: the title or name of the document, date of the document and purpose for which it will be used as an exhibit.

INTERROGATORY NO. 26

State the names and addresses of all persons involved in the answering of these interrogatories.

INTERROGATORY NO. 27

Have you, as the Defendant in this case, read the answers to each and every one of the above interrogatories and requests for production of documents and things, and do you state that the answers thereto are true, complete, responsive and correct?

INTERROGATORY NO. 28

If, at any time between this date and the date of the trial of this cause, you come into possession of information which, if such information were known to you, would properly have to be disclosed in the answers to these interrogatories or requests for production of documents and things, or any of them, will you disclose such newly discovered information, if any, to Defendant within fifteen days after such information comes into your possession or prior to the trial, whichever is first?

Respectfully submitted,

Signature of Defendant

NAME:

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

I, the undersigned, , Defendant, do hereby certify that I have this day mailed, by United States mail, postage prepaid, a true and correct copy of the above and foregoing Defendant's First Set of Interrogatories to Plaintiff at:

Name of Plaintiff

Address

DATED, this the day of .

NOTICE OF SERVICE OF DISCOVERY

TO: All Counsel of Record:

Notice is hereby given that Defendants have this date served in the above entitled action:

DEFENDANT'S FIRST SET OF INTERROGATORIES PROPOUNDED TO THE PLAINTIFF WITH REQUEST FOR PRODUCTION

The undersigned retains the originals of the above papers as custodian thereof pursuant to Court Rules.

DATED:

Respectfully Submitted,

By:

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

I, , Defendant in the above referenced civil action, do hereby certify that I have this day caused to be delivered, via United States Postal Service, first class postage prepaid, a true and correct copy of the above and foregoing document to:

Plaintiff's Name

Address

THIS the day of , 20 .

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What the North Carolina Civil Summons Is and why it matters

A North Carolina Civil Summons is the court-issued document that formally notifies a defendant that a civil suit has been filed and directs the defendant to appear, answer, or otherwise respond. It identifies the court, case caption, plaintiff and defendant names, and the time and manner for responding; it is issued by the clerk and must be served according to North Carolina civil procedure to establish jurisdiction and preserve the plaintiff's right to a judgment. Proper completion and service create an official record required for further prosecution or defense.

Why an accurate Civil Summons protects your case

A correctly prepared summons preserves due process, starts the court’s jurisdiction over the defendant, and creates a record of service; errors can delay proceedings or lead to dismissal. Accurate summons forms reduce service disputes and support timely enforcement of rights while documenting compliance with court rules and statutory requirements.

Why an accurate Civil Summons protects your case

Who typically prepares and handles a Civil Summons

The summons is most often prepared by plaintiffs' counsel, pro se plaintiffs, or court personnel before service.

  • Plaintiff or Plaintiff’s Attorney — Prepares complaint and summons, files them with the clerk and coordinates service on the defendant.
  • Pro Se Litigant — May complete and file the summons without counsel; must follow clerk instructions and local rules closely.
  • Process Server / Sheriff — Executes personal or alternative service, completes return of service, and files proof with the court.

Representative roles who sign or issue the summons

Filing Attorney

A civil litigator or firm attorney who prepares the summons and complaint, certifies filing with the court clerk, and arranges service through an approved server; typically ensures compliance with local rules and documents any service attempts.

Self-Represented Party

An individual acting without counsel who files the complaint and summons, must follow clerk instructions for filing and service, and is responsible for filing proof of service and meeting procedural deadlines to avoid dismissal or default.

Security and compliance essentials for electronic summons handling

Encryption in transit: TLS 1.2 / 1.3
Encryption at rest: AES-256
Audit trail: Detailed timestamps and IP logs
Regulatory compliance: ESIGN, UETA support
Healthcare readiness: HIPAA available (BAA required)
Certifications: SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001

Essential parts of a professional North Carolina Civil Summons

A complete summons contains standard structural elements: court caption, case number, parties, directive to defendant, issuance data, and clerk or plaintiff contact details. Each component serves a legal function for notice, jurisdiction, and proof of service.

Court Caption

Full court name and county, plaintiff v. defendant heading, and jurisdiction designation to ensure the document is filed in the correct forum and appears with the complaint in court records.

Case Number

Assigned by the clerk at filing; include exactly as issued to link summons, complaint, and subsequent filings in the court docket without mismatch or confusion.

Parties Named

Complete legal names and capacity (individual, corporation, partnership) for plaintiff and defendant; use government-issue or corporate names to avoid identity disputes during service or enforcement.

Directive to Defendant

Clear instruction to appear, answer, or otherwise respond within the period allowed by law or local rule; state the method for response (file with clerk, serve copies) when required.

Issuance Details

Date of issuance, signature or stamp of the clerk (or authorized plaintiff representative), and any clerk-filed endorsement required by the court to validate the summons.

Service Information

Place for process server to complete return of service or affidavit, including date, method, and name of server, so the court receives proof of proper service.

Step-by-step: preparing and serving a North Carolina Civil Summons

Follow these core steps in sequence to file a complaint, obtain a summons, serve the defendant, and document service in court records.

  • 01
    Prepare Complaint: Draft and sign the complaint with accurate party information and relief sought.
  • 02
    File with Clerk: Submit complaint to the county clerk and pay the required filing fee.
  • 03
    Obtain Summons: Request issuance of the summons from the clerk or use the clerk-provided form.
  • 04
    Serve Defendant: Arrange personal, substitute, or authorized alternative service and file the return of service.

Filing, issuing, serving and returning the summons — high-level flow

This flow highlights who does what from filing to proof of service so parties and servers can coordinate timely completion and record-keeping.

  • Clerk Issues Summons: Clerk affixes case number and issuance stamp after complaint filing.
  • Serve Using Approved Method: Personal or substitute service methods follow state rules for notice.
  • Process Server Returns Proof: Server completes affidavit or return and files it with the clerk.
  • Court Records Updated: The clerk records proof of service and updates the docket for case progression.

Configuring an online workflow for summons preparation and service

Set up a digital workflow to generate the summons, assign signers/servers, and capture proof of service in the record.

Field Configuration
Upload Document Upload complaint and summons PDF to the case folder.
Add Parties Enter plaintiff and defendant contact and address details.
Assign Server Designate process server and provide service instructions.
Enable Audit Trail Capture timestamps, IPs, and signed acknowledgments for proof.

Digital signing and e-submission considerations for summons processing

When using electronic tools, verify encryption, audit trail fidelity, signer authentication, and court acceptance of electronic returns.

  • Integrations: Salesforce, NetSuite, Microsoft 365 compatibility
  • File Formats: PDF and DOCX support; court-ready PDF output
  • Authentication: Email, SMS code, or advanced signer verification

Typical timing and deadlines to monitor after issuing a summons

Deadlines vary by court and cause of action; watch the defendant response period, return-of-service deadlines, and default judgment timelines closely.

Response Period:

Typically 30 days to file an answer after service in many jurisdictions

Return of Service:

File proof of service promptly after completing service to preserve record

Default Judgment Window:

Plaintiff may move for default if defendant fails to respond within the allowed period

Service Attempts:

Multiple attempts or alternative service require timely court filings

Venue Challenges:

Objections to venue must be raised promptly per local rules

Common mistakes to avoid when preparing and serving a summons

  • Using an incorrect defendant name or business entity name, which can invalidate service or require amendment and re-service.
  • Failing to obtain or attach the clerk’s issuance stamp or case number before service, causing docketing errors or service disputes.
  • Not filing the return of service or affidavit promptly after service, leaving no court record of notice and risking dismissal.
  • Using an unauthorized server or improper service method, which can lead the court to find service defective and delay proceedings.

Consequences of an incorrect or incomplete summons

Default Judgment: Granted if defendant is properly served and fails to respond
Case Dismissal: Court may dismiss claims for insufficient or improper service
Sanctions: Court may impose costs or sanctions for discovery or service abuses
Delay and Cost: Remedies can increase litigation time and attorney fees
Service Rejection: Clerk may refuse filings lacking proper proof of service
Appeal Complexity: Procedural defects can complicate appeals and result records

eSignature vendor pricing and key feature snapshot for summons workflows

Compare starting price and common capabilities for eSignature vendors used to prepare, sign, and submit summons-related documents; signNow appears first per vendor ordering rules.

signNow DocuSign Adobe Sign PandaDoc HelloSign
Starting Price $8/user/mo $15/user/mo $14/user/mo $19/user/mo $15/user/mo
Free Trial 7-day free trial Free trial available Free trial available Free trial available Free trial available
Bulk Send Yes Yes Yes Yes No
Audit Trail Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
HIPAA Compliant Yes Yes Yes No No

Practical examples of digital signing used with legal documents

The following short cases illustrate how organizations use digital tools to prepare and manage legally sensitive documents in practice.

Optica Ventures — COO

A small litigation practice standardized summons templates to reduce preparation time by centralizing forms and signers

  • They used a simple eSignature flow to send documents to clients and servers
  • "The interface is simple and easy-to-use for our team; more importantly, it is just as easy for our customers."

Martin Properties — Founder

A property management firm digitized service returns and proof-of-service documents to accelerate eviction and collection workflows

  • Mobile signing enabled on-site server confirmations and returned affidavits
  • "I can process and execute all of these documents online with 100% compliance and built-in security. Whether on mobile or working offline, I can get forms back to their necessary parties efficiently."

Frequently asked questions and quick solutions for summons preparation

Answers to common questions about completing, serving, and filing a North Carolina Civil Summons, plus how to avoid procedural missteps.


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