N.Y. New York City Civil Court Law § 402 : New York City Civil Court — Summons — Summons; time to appear and answer Date: 2 Sep 2015 TEXT PDF Current through 2016 New York Laws, Chapters 1 to 237 (a) If the summons is personally delivered to the defendant within the city of New York, it shall require him to appear and answer within twenty days after its service. (b) If the summons is served by any means other than personal delivery to the defendant within the city of New York, it shall provide that the defendant must appear and answer within thirty days after proof of service is filed with the clerk. N.Y. § 402