(b)Contents of Summons. The service of the summons shall be deemed complete 21 days after the first publication.(b)Personal Service Outside State. This Answer form is used to respond to the initial papers (Summons and Complaint) that started a civil lawsuit. You can get a Summons in a Civil Action form from the Clerk's. Office or on the Court's website. The requirements for serving a summons and complaint and other pleadings are found in Rule 4 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. You now you need to serve an answer and file it with in the 20 days. If you are served with a Summons and Complaint, you generally have 21 days to give a document called an "Answer" to the Plaintiff or their lawyer. Minnesota permits a legal action to be commenced upon service of the summons and complaint.