A practical, Philippine-specific guide for individuals and businesses. This is general information; for advice on your situation, consult a lawyer.

1) First principles: What a “summons” actually is

Civil cases. A summons is a court directive telling a defendant that a civil case has been filed and that they must respond within a set period. It’s governed primarily by Rule 14 of the Rules of Civil Procedure (as amended).
Criminal cases. The term “summons” is not typically used against an accused (courts issue warrants or subpoenas); when you see “summons” it almost always relates to civil actions (e.g., collection, damages, ejectment, small claims).
Who issues it. The summons is issued by the court where the case was filed, and is signed by the Branch Clerk of Court (not by the plaintiff or their lawyer).

2) What a genuine Philippine court summons looks like

A real summons is usually a one- to two-page document on court letterhead, paired with the complaint and its annexes. Expect to see:

Court identification
- Name of the court (e.g., “Regional Trial Court,” “Metropolitan Trial Court”) + judicial region, city/municipality, and branch number.
- Complete court address. Many branches also use a dry seal or stamped court seal.
Case details
- Case title (e.g., ABC Corp. v. Juan Dela Cruz).
- Docket number (e.g., “Civil Case No. R-QZN-23-XXXXX-CV”).
- Nature of the action (e.g., “Sum of Money,” “Damages,” “Ejectment,” “Small Claims”).
Clear directive
- A command to file an Answer (or appear on a specific date for special proceedings like small claims) within the stated period.
- The consequence of non-compliance (e.g., default/judgment).
Signature and seal
- Signed by the Branch Clerk of Court (name and designation typed under the signature).
- Date of issuance; sometimes a docket stamp.
Attachments
- Verified complaint and annexes (contracts, statements of account, affidavits, etc.).
- Certification against forum shopping (common in civil complaints).
- In small claims, the Statement of Claim and a hearing date are usually included upfront.

If the “summons” is just a text message, a generic email, or a letter from a law office demanding payment without court identifiers and a case number, it’s not a summons.

3) How legitimate summons are served

Who may serve.

Usually a sheriff or process server of the court.
The court may authorize other persons for specific modes (e.g., outside the court’s territory, or when specialized service is needed).

Common modes of service.

Personal service: delivered directly to the defendant.
Substituted service: left with a person of suitable age and discretion at the defendant’s residence or with a competent person in charge at the workplace, with an explanation of the contents.
Service on juridical entities: on the president, managing partner, general manager, corporate secretary, treasurer, or in-house counsel; for some entities, registered agents may be acceptable.
Service by courier, mail, or electronic means: allowed under the amended rules when authorized and with proper proof of service.
Service by publication: exceptional; requires court leave and compliance with strict requirements.

A legitimate server should be able to identify themselves (name, position, court/agency) and explain the basic nature of what’s being served.

4) Step-by-step: Verify authenticity before you react

Check the document anatomy
- Court name + branch + address present?
- Docket/case number present?
- Signed by the Branch Clerk of Court?
- Does it direct you to file an Answer or appear, not to “send money” to anyone?
Match the names and addresses
- Are the parties correct? Spelling and IDs aligned with you or your business?
- For companies: Is the service addressed to one of the recognized officers?
Inspect the attachments
- Is there a complaint (or statement of claim) attached?
- Do annexes look consistent (e.g., contract copies, SOAs)? Missing core annexes are a red flag.
Verify the server
- Ask for ID (sheriff/process server) and contact details of the court.
- If delivered by courier: keep the waybill and envelope.
Confirm with the court
- Use publicly listed contact information, or visit the courthouse named in the paper.
- Provide case title, docket number, your name, and the date on the summons.
- Ask: “Can you confirm this summons was issued by your branch, and the deadlines/hearing date are correct?”
Preserve evidence
- Take photos/scans of the documents, envelope, waybill, and IDs presented.
- Note date/time/manner of receipt—this affects deadlines.

5) Deadlines and what they mean

In ordinary civil actions, the summons typically requires filing an Answer within a fixed period (commonly 30 calendar days from valid service).
Special rules apply to small claims, ejectment, injunctions, and other special civil actions—deadlines or required actions may differ (e.g., mandatory hearing appearance in small claims).
Do not ignore a real summons. Missing the deadline can lead to default and a judgment without your side being heard.

6) Special service situations you should scrutinize

Service on a family member/housemate (substituted service): Must be a person of suitable age and discretion at your residence, with a reasonable explanation why you couldn’t be served personally.
Service at work: Must be left with a competent person in charge.
Service on corporations: Must be on the right officer. Service on a random employee, guard, or receptionist is suspect unless circumstances fit the rules.
Defendants who are minors or judicially declared incompetent: Service must also reach the guardian.
Service by email/courier/publication: Usually requires court authorization or specific conditions and proof of service filed in court.

7) Red flags that often indicate a scam

“Summons” sent only as SMS, chat, or messaging app with no court letterhead or docket number.
Demands that you pay fees/fines via e-wallet/bank transfer to a “sheriff” or “clerk” to avoid arrest or case filing. Courts do not collect money this way.
Threats of immediate arrest for civil nonpayment claims. (Arrest is not a remedy for ordinary civil debts.)
The document tells you to contact a private number to “settle” instead of instructing you to file an Answer or appear in court.
Incorrect court names/addresses (e.g., wrong city for a supposed branch), or misspelled positions (e.g., “Branch Clark of Court”).
No signature of the Branch Clerk of Court or an obviously pasted/typed signature with no printed name or designation.

8) If you suspect the summons is fake

Do not pay or share sensitive data.
Contact the court directly (using publicly available numbers or by visiting) and ask for verification.
Report the incident to the court/OCA or local authorities if a scam is confirmed.
Keep all materials (screenshots, envelopes, caller IDs) in case of investigation.

9) If the summons is real

Calendar the deadline immediately. Compute from the date of valid service (how it was served matters).
Consult counsel quickly; bring the summons, complaint, annexes, and proof of service.
Prepare your Answer (or the specific response the summons requires). Consider affirmative defenses, counterclaims, and preservation of evidence.
Mind special rules (e.g., small claims usually set a hearing date; appearances may be mandatory).
Preserve delivery proof (receipts, waybills, process server details). Your lawyer may need to challenge improper service.

10) Quick checklist (print-friendly)

Court name, branch, and full address are correct.
Case title and docket number are present.
Branch Clerk of Court signature + seal.
Clear directive to Answer/Appear + stated deadline/date.
Complaint and annexes attached (and look consistent).
Served by sheriff/process server or with proper mode (personal, substituted, authorized courier/e-service).
For companies: served on authorized officer.
I verified with the court using public contact details.
I noted the exact date/manner of service for deadline computation.
I consulted a lawyer and calendared next steps.

11) Frequently asked questions

Q: It was handed to my helper; is that valid? A: It can be, if substituted service requirements are met (suitable age/discretion at your residence, and a reasonable account of why personal service failed). Your lawyer can assess if it was improper and, if so, raise it promptly.

Q: The “summons” came by email. Real? A: Possible only if the court allowed electronic service and proper proof of service exists. Verify with the issuing branch before acting—or ignoring it.

Q: The letter demands I pay a “sheriff’s fee” via e-wallet today or face arrest. A: Extremely likely a scam. Courts do not collect fees by text/chat or require instant e-wallet payments.

Q: What happens if I ignore a real summons? A: You risk default and a judgment against you. Act within the stated period.

Q: Can I settle instead of filing an Answer? A: Settlement is often possible, but do not miss the Answer deadline while negotiating. Your lawyer may file an Answer or seek appropriate relief to protect you.

Bottom line

A legitimate Philippine court summons is court-issued, clerk-signed, case-specific, and deadline-driven—and it tells you to answer the court, not to send money to a stranger. When in doubt, verify directly with the court and get legal counsel quickly.