3. Give your lawyer a copy of your forms

You must give your lawyer a copy of your court forms and a copy of your bill after they have been issued by the court. This is called serving your documents. This lets your lawyer know about the assessment hearing and gives them a chance to respond.

Keep the originals for yourself.

Ways to serve your documents

You can serve your lawyer:

• yourself or a family member or friend can do it for you
• by registered mail or courier
• by hiring a process server

The Guide to Serving Documents explains the rules you must follow.

Affidavit of service

The person who gives your documents to your lawyer must fill out an Form 16B: Affidavit of Service. It includes information like:

• the date and time your lawyer was served
• where it was served
• the first and last name of the person who was served
• whether your lawyer was served in person, by courier, or by registered mail

If you serve your lawyer by mail, you need the signature of the person who accepts the delivery. This signature is your proof that the claim was served.

You must then file your Affidavit of Service with the court. You must do this at least 10 days before your hearing date.

But some SCJ courthouses let you bring your Affidavit of Service to the court on the date of your hearing. Check the process at your local court.