I got a postcard saying 'final lawsuit notice, you'll be sued'. Is it real?

A genuine court complaint normally arrives by 特別送達, special mail needing your signature. A postcard, ordinary mail or SMS saying 'lawsuit notice' and telling you to call a number and pay is very likely a scam (架空請求). Do not call the number or pay; consult the Consumer Hotline (188) or the police (#9110).

I don't recognize the claim, or I disagree with it.

That is exactly when you must file a 答弁書 stating you dispute it, with your reasons, and attend (or respond on) the hearing date. Ignoring it means being treated as not contesting, and the judgment goes the other side's way. If it's hard, consult a lawyer or 法テラス.

I can't afford a lawyer.

法テラス (Japan Legal Support Center) can, for people under an income limit, offer free legal consultation and a system to advance lawyer fees. Contact 法テラス first.

It's a small amount — can I ignore it?

No. Even a small amount, if ignored, leads to a default judgment and can proceed to seizure of wages or bank accounts. Even for small-claims or payment-demand procedures, always respond within the deadline.

Legal / Court

訴状・呼出状: Japan Court Summons / Complaint Explained (and 'lawsuit' scams)

A document labelled 訴状 or 口頭弁論期日呼出状 is an official notice from a court that a civil lawsuit has been filed against you. The 訴状 states who is suing you (the 原告, plaintiff) and what they demand; the 呼出状 gives the date of the first hearing (口頭弁論). ⛔ Do not ignore it. If you do nothing, file no answer, and do not attend, the court can issue a default judgment (欠席判決) accepting the other side's claims — and you lose. First, calmly check who is suing, what they want, and what you must do by when.

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Watch for scams

⛔ Beware court-impersonation scams (架空請求): a postcard, letter or SMS says 'final lawsuit notice', 'civil suit notice' or 'you'll be seized', creates fear, and tells you to call a number and pay a 'settlement' or 'withdrawal' fee. That is a scam. A genuine court complaint arrives by 特別送達 — special mail requiring your signature. Do not call the listed number or pay; check with the Consumer Hotline (188), the police advice line (#9110), or the court's main number that you looked up yourself.

Who receives it

The person being sued in a civil claim (money owed, a contract or loan, rent, accident compensation, etc.) receives it from the court. A genuine court 訴状 normally arrives by 特別送達 — special registered mail that requires your signature. ⛔ By contrast, a postcard or ordinary mail saying 'final lawsuit notice' or 'civil suit notice' and telling you to call a number and pay is very likely a court-impersonation scam (架空請求, see the warning below).

What to do

1Check who is suing (the 原告), what they demand (the claim and amount), and the hearing date.
2⛔ Do not ignore it. Fill in the enclosed 答弁書 (answer) with your position — whether you admit or dispute the claim, and your side — and file it with the court by the stated deadline.
3Attend the court on the given 口頭弁論期日. If you cannot, file the 答弁書 and contact the court clerk (書記官) to discuss.
4If it is complex, the amount is large, or you don't recognize the claim, consult a lawyer. If cost is a worry, 法テラス (Japan Legal Support Center) may offer free consultation or fee assistance for those under an income limit.
5Keep copies of everything and records of what you submitted and the mail you received.

About the deadline

The most important things are the 答弁書 filing deadline and the hearing date. ⛔ If you file no answer and do not attend, you can be treated as accepting the claim and get a default judgment (欠席判決) against you. Once a judgment is final, it can lead to seizure of wages or bank accounts. The time is often short, so act as soon as the document arrives, and contact the court if you can't meet a deadline.

Common misunderstandings

I got a postcard saying 'final lawsuit notice, you'll be sued'. Is it real?: A genuine court complaint normally arrives by 特別送達, special mail needing your signature. A postcard, ordinary mail or SMS saying 'lawsuit notice' and telling you to call a number and pay is very likely a scam (架空請求). Do not call the number or pay; consult the Consumer Hotline (188) or the police (#9110).
I don't recognize the claim, or I disagree with it.: That is exactly when you must file a 答弁書 stating you dispute it, with your reasons, and attend (or respond on) the hearing date. Ignoring it means being treated as not contesting, and the judgment goes the other side's way. If it's hard, consult a lawyer or 法テラス.
I can't afford a lawyer.: 法テラス (Japan Legal Support Center) can, for people under an income limit, offer free legal consultation and a system to advance lawyer fees. Contact 法テラス first.
It's a small amount — can I ignore it?: No. Even a small amount, if ignored, leads to a default judgment and can proceed to seizure of wages or bank accounts. Even for small-claims or payment-demand procedures, always respond within the deadline.

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