<prompt> Human: Im suing someone in small claims court for 700. He lives out of state. The rules for serving in state are The Notice of Small Claim must be served on the defendant not less than ten 10 days before the first hearing. The rules for out-of-state are: Personal service of summons or other process may be made upon any party outside the state. If upon a citizen or resident of this state or upon a person who has submitted to the jurisdiction of the courts of this state, it shall have the force and effect of personal service within this state; otherwise it shall have the force and effect of service by publication. The summons upon the party out of the state shall contain the same and be served in like manner as personal summons within the state, except it shall require the party to appear and answer within sixty days after such personal service out of the state. WA RCW 4.28.180 QUESTION: does the last sentence mean that my court date must be 60 days after the defendant is served? Or does it mean that the court date must occur before 60 days have elasped after the notice has been served. Please help! Thanks.  <response>: You might wanna try rlegaladvice 