In California, the speed at which a creditor can complete a lawsuit against you depends on several factors, including the jurisdiction in which the lawsuit is filed, the complexity of the case, and the court’s schedule.
Typically, a creditor must first send you a demand letter or initiate debt collection efforts before filing a lawsuit. Once a lawsuit is filed, the process can take several months to several years, depending on the complexity of the case and the court’s schedule.
Once the lawsuit is filed, you will typically receive a summons and complaint, which will notify you of the lawsuit and provide you with the opportunity to respond to the allegations. If you do not respond to the summons and complaint, the creditor may be able to obtain a default judgment against you.
If you dispute the allegations in the complaint, the case will proceed through the discovery and pre-trial stages, which can take several months to several years, depending on the complexity of the case and the court’s schedule.
It’s important to be aware that if a judgment is entered against you, the creditor may be able to garnish your wages, seize your bank accounts, and place a lien on your property to collect the debt. If you are facing a lawsuit from a creditor, you may want to consider speaking with a debt collection defense attorney to determine your options for defending against the lawsuit.