You receive a legal notice.
You panic. You don’t know what to do. You waste time.
The first 48 hours matter.
How you respond. What you do. When you act.
This guide shows you the plan.
Triage process. Response steps. Action checklist. Your protection.
Read this. Know the plan. Respond correctly.
Key Takeaways
- The first 48 hours after receiving a legal notice are critical—you need to assess urgency, identify deadlines, and take immediate action
- Triage the document immediately—identify document type, assess urgency, determine response deadline, and assign responsibility
- Contact legal counsel within 24 hours for lawsuits, compliance notices, or any document requiring legal response
- Document everything—keep copies of all notices, record response actions, track deadlines, and maintain a paper trail
- Never ignore a legal notice—even if you think it's a mistake, respond appropriately to prevent default judgments or revoked status
Table of Contents
Why 48 Hours Matter
The first 48 hours determine your outcome.
What happens if you act quickly:
- Meet response deadlines
- Defend your case properly
- Maintain good standing
- Prevent escalation
What happens if you delay:
- Miss response deadlines
- Default judgments
- Revoked status
- Legal problems escalate
The reality: Quick action prevents bigger problems.
Hour 1: Assess Document
Assess the document immediately:
Identify Document Type
What to look for:
- Lawsuit or complaint
- Compliance notice
- Tax notice
- Government notice
Why it matters: Document type determines response urgency.
Assess Urgency
What to assess:
- Response deadline
- Severity of issue
- Potential consequences
- Required actions
Why it matters: Urgency determines response timeline.
Determine Next Steps
What to determine:
- Need for legal counsel
- Required response actions
- Timeline for response
- Responsible person
Why it matters: Clear next steps prevent delays.
Pro tip: Assess documents immediately. Don’t wait. See our critical documents guide for document identification.
Hour 2: Identify Deadline
Identify the response deadline:
Find Deadline in Document
What to look for:
- Response deadline date
- Filing deadline
- Hearing date
- Compliance deadline
Why it matters: Deadlines determine urgency.
Calculate Time Remaining
What to calculate:
- Days until deadline
- Business days vs calendar days
- Time for legal counsel review
- Time for response preparation
Why it matters: Time calculation determines action plan.
Set Internal Deadlines
What to set:
- Legal counsel contact deadline
- Response preparation deadline
- Filing deadline
- Follow-up deadline
Why it matters: Internal deadlines ensure timely response.
Pro tip: Identify deadlines immediately. Set internal deadlines. Never miss a response deadline. See our cost guide for consequences of missing deadlines.
Hours 3-24: Contact Counsel
Contact legal counsel within 24 hours:
When to Contact Counsel
Contact immediately for:
- Lawsuits or complaints
- Compliance notices with penalties
- Tax notices
- Any document requiring legal response
Why it matters: Legal counsel ensures proper response.
What to Provide Counsel
What to provide:
- Copy of document
- Deadline information
- Business context
- Any relevant information
Why it matters: Complete information enables proper response.
Set Response Timeline
What to set:
- Counsel review deadline
- Response preparation deadline
- Filing deadline
- Follow-up schedule
Why it matters: Timeline ensures timely response.
Pro tip: Contact legal counsel within 24 hours for urgent documents. Don’t delay. See our document flow guide for processing systems.
Hours 25-48: Take Action
Take action within 48 hours:
Prepare Response
What to prepare:
- Response documents
- Supporting evidence
- Required filings
- Response strategy
Why it matters: Prepared response ensures proper defense.
File Response
What to file:
- Response to lawsuit
- Compliance filing
- Tax response
- Required documents
Why it matters: Timely filing prevents default judgments.
Follow Up
What to follow up:
- Confirm filing receipt
- Track response status
- Monitor deadlines
- Update legal counsel
Why it matters: Follow-up ensures response completion.
Pro tip: Take action within 48 hours. Don’t delay. See our cost guide for consequences of delay.
Document Everything
Document all actions:
Keep Copies
What to keep:
- Original notice
- Response documents
- Filing confirmations
- Correspondence
Why it matters: Documentation provides proof of response.
Record Actions
What to record:
- Date received
- Actions taken
- Deadlines met
- Follow-up dates
Why it matters: Action records provide timeline.
Track Deadlines
What to track:
- Response deadlines
- Filing deadlines
- Follow-up deadlines
- Compliance deadlines
Why it matters: Deadline tracking prevents missed deadlines.
Pro tip: Document everything. Keep records. Track deadlines. See our compliance dashboard guide for tracking systems.
Common Mistakes
Avoid these common mistakes:
Mistake 1: Ignoring Notice
What happens:
- Default judgment
- Revoked status
- Legal problems escalate
How to avoid: Never ignore a notice. Always respond.
Mistake 2: Delaying Response
What happens:
- Missed deadlines
- Default judgments
- Revoked status
How to avoid: Respond within 48 hours. Don’t delay.
Mistake 3: Not Contacting Counsel
What happens:
- Improper response
- Missed legal issues
- Poor defense
How to avoid: Contact legal counsel for legal documents.
Mistake 4: Poor Documentation
What happens:
- Lost records
- No proof of response
- Legal problems
How to avoid: Document everything. Keep records.
Pro tip: Avoid these mistakes. Follow the triage plan. See our cost guide for consequences of mistakes.
Your Next Steps
Know the plan. Respond correctly. Protect your business.
This Week:
- Review this guide
- Understand the triage plan
- Create your response procedures
- Set up documentation system
This Month:
- Train team on triage procedures
- Establish legal counsel relationships
- Create response templates
- Test your procedures
Going Forward:
- Follow triage plan for all notices
- Document all actions
- Track all deadlines
- Maintain response procedures
Need help? Check out our registered agent guide for service options, our critical documents guide for document handling, our document flow guide for processing systems, our cost guide for consequences, and our team SOP guide for team procedures.
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FAQs - Frequently Asked Questions About Legal Document Triage: What to Do in the First 48 Hours After Receiving a Notice
What should I do in the first hour after receiving a legal notice from my registered agent?
Immediately identify the document type, assess its urgency, determine the response deadline, and figure out whether you need legal counsel.
Learn More...
Don't panic, but don't delay. In the first hour, read the document carefully and identify what it is: a lawsuit, compliance notice, tax notice, or government filing requirement.
Assess urgency by looking for response deadlines, potential consequences, and required actions.
Determine next steps: does this require a lawyer? What's the response timeline? Who in your organization is responsible for handling it?
The first hour sets the tone for everything that follows—quick assessment prevents missed deadlines and panicked last-minute responses.
Why are the first 48 hours after receiving a legal notice so critical?
Many legal notices have tight response deadlines. Acting within 48 hours prevents default judgments, revoked business status, and escalating legal problems.
Learn More...
Some legal documents, like lawsuits, have strict response deadlines—often 20 to 30 days. Missing these deadlines can result in a default judgment against your business.
Compliance notices may require action within specific timeframes to avoid penalties or revocation of your business status.
Quick action within 48 hours gives you time to assess the document, contact legal counsel, prepare a response, and file before any deadline passes.
Delay compounds problems: the longer you wait, the fewer options you have and the more expensive the resolution becomes.
When should I contact legal counsel after receiving a legal notice, and what should I provide them?
Contact an attorney within 24 hours for lawsuits, compliance notices with penalties, tax notices, or any document requiring a legal response. Provide the full document, deadline info, and business context.
Learn More...
For urgent documents like lawsuits or compliance notices with penalties, contact legal counsel immediately—within hours, not days.
Provide your attorney with: a complete copy of the document, all deadline information, relevant business context (your entity type, compliance history, etc.), and any related prior correspondence.
Set a clear response timeline with your attorney: when will they review the document, when will the response be prepared, and when will it be filed?
Don't try to respond to lawsuits or penalty-carrying notices on your own—the cost of legal counsel is far less than the cost of an improper response.
What are the most common mistakes people make after receiving a legal notice?
Ignoring the notice, delaying the response, not contacting legal counsel, and failing to document their actions.
Learn More...
Ignoring a notice is the worst mistake—it can lead to default judgments, revoked business status, and escalating legal problems even if the original issue was minor.
Delaying response beyond 48 hours compresses your timeline and limits your options for a proper defense.
Not contacting legal counsel for serious documents (lawsuits, penalty notices) often results in improper responses that make the situation worse.
Poor documentation means you can't prove you responded on time or took appropriate action, which can hurt you in future disputes.
Follow the triage plan: assess immediately, identify deadlines, contact counsel within 24 hours, and document everything.
How should I document my response to a legal notice to create a proper paper trail?
Keep copies of the original notice and all response documents, record dates and actions taken, and track all deadlines in a centralized system.
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Start by preserving the original notice exactly as received—date-stamp it and file the original.
Record every action you take: when you received the notice, when you assessed it, when you contacted counsel, when you prepared and filed your response.
Keep copies of all response documents, filing confirmations, and correspondence related to the matter.
Track deadlines in a centralized system (calendar, compliance dashboard, or project management tool) with reminders set before each deadline.
This documentation trail protects you by proving you acted promptly and appropriately if the matter is ever questioned.
What types of legal documents require the most urgent response when received through a registered agent?
Lawsuits and complaints are the most urgent, followed by compliance notices with penalties, tax notices, and government enforcement actions.
Learn More...
Lawsuits and complaints have the strictest deadlines—failure to respond within the court-mandated timeframe (typically 20–30 days) results in a default judgment against you.
Compliance notices with penalties require quick action to stop fines from accruing and to prevent revocation of your business status.
Tax notices from the IRS or state tax agencies often have specific response windows and can escalate to liens or levies if ignored.
Government enforcement actions demand immediate legal counsel, as they can carry both civil and criminal consequences.
Even notices that seem minor should be assessed within 48 hours—what appears to be a routine filing could have serious consequences if ignored.
Sources & Additional Information
This guide provides general information about legal document triage. Your specific situation may require different considerations.
For registered agent services, see our Registered Agent Guide.
For document handling, see our Critical Documents Guide.
For document flow, see our Document Flow Guide.
For consequences, see our Cost Guide.
For team procedures, see our Team SOP Guide.
Consult with professionals for advice specific to your situation.
