Why am I and my child served with legal papers and what are these papers?Juvenile cases are civil cases and civil law requires that a party to the proceeding be served with a copy of the petition and the summons by a law enforcement officer - usually a de

Juvenile cases are civil cases and civil law requires that a party to the proceeding be served with a copy of the petition and the summons by a law enforcement officer - usually a deputy constable. The juvenile must be personally served with the petition and the summons - which means he or she must have it personally handed to them and not mailed or left at the front door of their residence. As the parent or guardian of the juvenile you should be served with the petition and summons, but if you show up in court you waive the requirement that you be served.  And the law does not require that you be personally served. The petition is the criminal law offense that your child has allegedly violated and it details the date of the offense and the name of the victim. The summons is a notice of what court your child's case is in, the court location and the date and time that you and your child must attend.