Organize before your conversation
Keep the full packet
Save every page and note when and how you received it.
Identify the case
Find the court, county, case number, and parties.
Ask for legal guidance
Have an attorney review your actual documents and deadlines.
Keep your packet together. An attorney needs your actual papers to advise you about your case.
Preserve the complete packet
Keep every page and attachment. Note when and how the papers reached you. Make a separate list of documents received later so an attorney can distinguish the original papers from subsequent notices.
Identify the case
Look for the court name, county, case number, and names of the parties. Use the court or clerk’s official website to find case information. A search-engine advertisement or unsolicited letter is not an official case record.
Ask for case-specific guidance
Ask an attorney to review the papers and explain what action, if any, is required and when. Tell them about related communications with your mortgage servicer and any assistance application.
Write down your questions
What stage is the case at? What documents are missing? What would the attorney handle? How are fees and communications managed? A short written list can help you make the most of the conversation.