Q: I'm suing a married couple in small claims court. If only one of them gets served, can I get a judgment against both?
A married couple abandoned the house they rented from me, leaving thousands of dollars in damage. I've filed against them in small claims court in Oklahoma. The process server was able to serve the wife, but not the husband. They both have jobs, and I would like the judgment to apply to both of them. Do I need to get the husband served, or does service for the wife suffice to get a judgment against both of them? Thanks so much for your help!
A: The process server can serve the spouse also so you can get personal jurisdiction over both. The server will have to file his return of service showing he served the husband by leaving his summons with the wife. They must live together where she was served.
Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.
The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.
Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.
