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What to do if…
you receive a jury summons with the wrong name or address details

Produced and maintained by PanicStation.org Published: Last reviewed: Editorial policy USA guide

Short answer

Do not ignore it. Use the instructions on the summons or an official court website to contact the jury office or clerk, so they can tell you how to correct the details or mark that the summons is not for you.

Do not do these things

  • Don’t pay anyone who calls, texts, or emails saying you missed jury duty and must pay immediately.
  • Don’t give your Social Security number, bank details, card details, date of birth, or other sensitive information to an unsolicited caller.
  • Don’t complete or sign a juror form as the named person if the summons is not for you.
  • Don’t use links in unsolicited texts or emails about jury duty; go through the official court website or the contact details on a summons you believe is genuine.
  • Don’t throw the summons away just because one detail is wrong.
  • Don’t make panic moves such as sending money, closing accounts, or sharing documents before you have verified the court contact.

What to do now

  1. Check which court issued it. Look for the court name, jury office, clerk’s office, juror number, and response instructions. If anything feels suspicious, independently search for the court’s official website and compare the contact details before calling or submitting anything.

  2. If the summons is for you but a name or address detail is wrong, respond using the method the summons gives. Many courts use a juror questionnaire, qualification form, online juror portal, phone line, email address, or mailed response. Correct only the inaccurate detail, keep the juror number if one is shown, and submit the response as instructed.

  3. If the summons is for someone else at your address, do not fill it out for them. Write “Not at this address” on the envelope and put it back into the mailstream. If you opened it by mistake, put the papers back in the envelope if you can, contact the jury office listed on the summons, and say: “This person does not live at this address.”

  4. If it arrived late because it went to an old address, contact the jury office as soon as you can. Say: “I only received this on [date] because it was sent to my former address.” Ask whether they want you to correct the address, complete a questionnaire, request a new date, or take another step.

  5. If the problem is a misspelled name, similar name, or possible identity mix-up, keep the explanation simple. Say what is wrong, such as: “The first name is not mine,” “The last name is misspelled,” or “A person with this name does not live here.” Ask the jury office how they want the record handled.

  6. If you receive a threatening message saying you must pay or be arrested, treat it as a scam risk. Do not pay, do not click links, and do not give personal information. End the call or stop replying, then contact the court through an official number or website. For a federal jury-duty scam, you can notify the Clerk of Court for the U.S. District Court in your area and report the scam to the FTC.

  7. After the summons is handled, ask how to reduce repeat errors. The jury office may be able to tell you which local record may need updating. That update can wait until the immediate summons is under control.

What can wait

  • You do not need to work out who caused the error today.
  • You do not need to update every possible public record before contacting the jury office.
  • You do not need to decide today whether to request an excusal, postponement, or hardship deferral unless the jury office tells you that deadline is immediate.
  • You do not need to answer a caller’s demands while you are checking whether the contact is real.

Important reassurance

Wrong names, old addresses, previous residents, and stale records can happen. A calm, direct response through the real jury office is usually the quickest way to stop the issue from escalating.

Scope note

These are first steps only. If the court says there is already a missed appearance, a penalty, or a deadline you cannot meet, follow the jury office’s instructions and consider getting help from local legal aid or an attorney.

Important note

This is general information, not legal advice or professional advice. Jury procedures vary by state, county, and court, so the summons and the official jury office are the best sources for what to do next.

Additional Resources

Closely connected guides that may be useful during the same situation or its immediate aftermath.

About this guide

This guide was produced and is maintained by PanicStation.org using its published editorial process. Official and specialist sources are checked where relevant, and AI-assisted tools may be used for drafting, organisation, and consistency checks. The site operator remains responsible for publication, revision, and removal decisions.

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