Served with Court Papers in WA — What to Do First

Someone has just handed you court documents, or you pulled a registered letter from your mailbox with a court seal on it. Your heart rate went up. That is normal — being served with a court claim feels confrontational even when the underlying dispute is mundane. But the single most important thing right now is not to panic and not to ignore the documents.

Identify What You Received

Look at the documents in your hands. You should see:

• Form 4 (Minor Case Claim) — a sealed document with the Magistrates Court of Western Australia logo, a case reference number (e.g., CIV/PER/12345/26), the claimant's name and address, a summary of what they are claiming, and the amount.
• Form 15A (Response to Minor Case Claim) — a blank form included for you to complete and file.

If the document says "Form 6" instead of "Form 4," you have been served with a Consumer/Trader Minor Case Claim. The response process is the same — Form 15A.

If there is no court seal or case number, you may have received a letter of demand (a private letter requesting payment). A letter of demand is not a court filing and does not start any countdown.

Verify It Is Real

Before reacting, confirm the claim exists. Go to the eCourts Portal at ecourts.justice.wa.gov.au and search for the case using the reference number on the documents. If the case appears, confirm the case details. The response deadline runs from legally effective service, not from when the case appears in the portal.

If you cannot find it, contact the Magistrates Court registry listed on the documents using the phone number from the court's official website — not any number printed in a text message or email.

Know Your Deadline

You have 14 calendar days from the day after service to lodge your Form 15A response if you were served within WA. Served interstate — 21 days. The count includes weekends and public holidays. If the last day falls on a weekend or public holiday, the deadline extends to the next business day at 5:00 PM WST.

Do Not Call the Claimant to "Sort It Out" Without Filing

A common mistake: you call the person suing you, agree to negotiate, and let the deadline pass while discussions drag on. Phone calls and email exchanges do not pause the clock. The parties may agree in writing to extend the deadline, but court approval or registry formalisation through the eCourts Portal is recommended to prevent default processing. If no extension is agreed, apply to the court for an extension before the deadline expires.

If you want to negotiate, file your Form 15A first — you can always settle later. Filing preserves your rights while keeping the door open for resolution.

Your Next Steps

1. Note the date you were served and calculate your deadline.
2. Read the claimant's statement of claim carefully — what exactly are they alleging?
3. Decide whether you want to defend, admit, partially admit, or counterclaim.
4. Complete Form 15A and lodge it on the eCourts Portal before your deadline.

The WA Minor Case Response Guide takes you through each of these steps with deadline worksheets, Form 15A completion instructions, and guidance on choosing the right response path for your situation.

See more Western Australia guides →