Am I Being sued or not?

[raynedrop]

A few weeks ago I received a "Judge Assignment" letter in mail. On first page it had *BIG CREDIT CARD COMPANY* VS my ex-husband and the second page said the same but had my name added on with his. A few days later I get a Discovery Order with the names listed the same way. I had been getting calls from a law office for several months but they always asked for *the ex*. When I explained who I was and that he had basically abandoned me and my children and disappeared the man apologized and said he would remove my number. I did give *the ex*'s cell phone number. I was not yet aware then that he hadn't been paying the credit card bill (as it was the ONLY bill I asked him to take over, I do two mortgages, utilities, house repairs and anything for our kids need) and in fact it had been so long that when I did check my credit report I seen it was charged off. I tried contacting *the ex* but he refuses any contact with me.

The other night a sheriff shows up at my door with a court summons and asks for *the ex*. I tell him that he has been gone since early 2009. He also had a second summons with him with a different address for *the ex*. I said to him that he probably has one there for me too. He looked at both and said that I am not listed as a defendant on either.

Last night when I came home there was a message on our answering machine from the law office again. It asked for *the ex* and said that if I was not him I was to hang up immediately as the message was only for him.

I don't know if I am being sued or not. Wouldn't I have been listed in the court summons? I have tried contacting *the ex* to see exactly what it says and to try to figure out what he/we need to do but once again I heard nothing back.

My children and I are completely broke after bills are paid. I don't want to end up losing the couple dollars I sometimes have to buy groceries because I am not prepared for court, there is no way I can afford a lawyer. Seriously. Right now my refrigerator has a gallon of milk, 6 eggs and about 2 pounds of potatoes in it.

I want to add that none of my bills are late. Never have been. I am actually considering bankruptcy now. I don't know what to do and I am scared to death.

Edited October 3, 2010 by raynedrop
took specific names out and replaced with generic terms

[Savoir]

If the Sheriff said that your name isn't on either of the two summons ... chances are that you're not involved in the suit(s).

One thing you can ask youself "Is your name on the Credit card?"

Two things you can do is to (1) check at the court house and see if you can pull the filings for the two summons that the sheriff had for your "ex".

Check to see if your name is on either of the two summons.

(2) find out if PA is a 'communal property state' .... that is can you be held responsible for your "ex's" actions?

I'm not from PA so I really don't know anything about your laws but if your name wasn't on either of the two summons that the Sheriff had ... that's a good thing.

[GDayMateAZ]

PA is not Community Property state.

"The states that follow the community property law are Arizona, Nevada, California, New Mexico, Idaho, Washington, Louisiana, Wisconsin and Texas. All of these states agree that everything earned during the marriage should be divided equally at the time of a divorce."

(2) find out if PA is a 'communal property state' .... that is can you be held responsible for your "ex's" actions?

I'm not from PA so I really don't know anything about your laws but if your name wasn't on either of the two summons that the Sheriff had ... that's a good thing.