Missouri AO-440 Summons in a Civil Action is an important legal document that initiates a civil lawsuit in Missouri. When a plaintiff wishes to bring a claim against a defendant in a civil case, they must serve the defendant with a summons. The purpose of the AO-440 Summons is to officially notify the defendant of the lawsuit and provide them with the opportunity to respond. The AO-440 Summons in a Civil Action is a standardized form that contains essential information about the lawsuit. It typically includes the names of the parties involved (the plaintiff and defendant), the case number, the court where the case is filed, and the deadline for the defendant to respond. This document is prepared and issued by the clerk of the court where the lawsuit is filed. In addition to the standard AO-440 Summons, there are a few other types of summons that may be relevant in Missouri civil actions. These include: 1. AO-440B — Alias Summons: An alias summons is issued when the original summons fails to achieve proper service on the defendant. It is essentially a second summons that provides an additional opportunity to serve the defendant with notice of the lawsuit. 2. AO-440C Jurieses Summons: A pluries summons is issued when both the original summons and the alias summons fail to achieve proper service on the defendant. It acts as a third summons and is issued to further attempt to notify the defendant of the pending lawsuit. Proper service of the AO-440 Summons, whether the original, alias, or juries, is crucial for a civil case to proceed. The summons must be served in accordance with Missouri's rules of civil procedure, which typically require personal delivery to the defendant or an authorized agent, or by certified mail with a return receipt requested. In conclusion, the Missouri AO-440 Summons in a Civil Action is a vital document that triggers a civil lawsuit by officially notifying the defendant of the legal proceedings against them. Additional types of summons, such as the alias and juries summons, may be used if initial attempts at service fail.