Original process shall be served within the Commonwealth within 30 days after the issuance of the writ or the filing of the complaint. Use the form with the boxes to guide you through filling out the blank form.Upon receipt in the clerk of courts' office, the order or court notice promptly shall be time stamped with the date of receipt. Generally, you have 21 days to respond after service of the summons and complaint. Look at Virginia Supreme Court Rule (a). To initiate a lawsuit, an individual must serve process on the Defendant they are suing. Fill out the jury duty questionnaire your county sends you. Respond to any summons for jury duty you receive within the timelines required. Fill out the survey honestly, mail it back or submit it online and wait for a confirmation That you have show up or you've been excused. I agree with the prior attorneys' answers that you have 21 days from the date of service to file responsive pleadings.