Cal. Civ. Code § 534.080
Form of summons
Operative Text
The summons shall be endorsed on or annexed to the complaint, and may be in the following form: The state of Missouri, to the sheriff of the county of ______, greeting: You are hereby commanded to summon E F, of the county of ______, to appear before the undersigned judge within and for said county, at ______ therein, on the ______ day of ______, at the hour of ______ of the clock in the forenoon, then and there to answer and defend against the complaint of G H, of forcible entry and detainer (or of unlawful detainer, as the case may be), made by the said E F upon the land of the said G H, as by the complaint of the said G H, hereto annexed, will more fully appear, and have you then and there this writ, with the return of your proceedings thereon. Given under my hand this ______ day of ______, 20______ A B, Judge.
Missouri Revised Statutes § 534.080 establishes the required form and content of a summons used in forcible entry and detainer or unlawful detainer proceedings. The summons, which must be attached to or written on the complaint, directs a sheriff to notify the named defendant to appear before a judge at a specified time and place to respond to the landlord's claims. The statute provides a model template that courts and officials may follow when issuing this document.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Mo. Rev. Stat. § 534.080, when a landlord initiates a forcible entry and detainer or unlawful detainer action, the court process begins with a properly formed summons attached to the complaint. Operators familiar with this process generally ensure that all required identifying information — including the correct county, parties' names, and hearing details — is accurately reflected in the summons. Working with a court clerk or legal professional to prepare these documents helps ensure the summons conforms to the statutory template.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Mo. Rev. Stat. § 534.080 governs the official summons that a tenant receives when a landlord files a forcible entry or unlawful detainer action against them. Receiving a summons means a court date has been set and the tenant is expected to appear and present a defense at the specified time and place. Tenants who receive such a summons may wish to review the attached complaint carefully and consider reaching out to a local tenant-rights organization or legal aid office to understand available options before the hearing date.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 14, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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