Do I meet with the sheriff and get the civil suit papers or do I wait and get an attorney ?

I would like to ask someone who could possibly help my situation. I got a call today from Collin county Deputy wanting to serve me documents from Ariel Financial (creditor) a suit they have against me. They are pursuing an old debt from 2003. They sent out someone before this sheriff to serve me and he was caught by my neighbor going through my mail and even asked my neighbor if I lived there. I have reported the man who was going through my mail to Postal Inspectors and American collectors. I have his license plates and description. I guess what I really need to know right now are my rights as a consumer. Do I meet with the sheriff and get the civil suit papers or do I wait and get an attorney who specializes in this? Will it cost me more?

Please help

This is a third party collector Ariel Financial is known to do this. I checked with the county where they claim to have filed a suit and there isn't one. So how does that work do they serve me then set it up?

An atty will just add to the inevitable. I'd just go get them, contact the lender, and get a payment plan in place before it goes to trial and judgement/lien status.

If the debt is that old and you haven't paid anything for a number of years, it probably isn't enforceable anymore.

However, if you get served and do nothing, they will have a Default Judgment, which will be valid and enforceable.

Don't go out of your way for the papers, but see an attorney as soon as you do get them.

Let him serve you the papers and pay what you owe them. It's the right thing to do. They are only seeking information to help them collect a (?legitimate) debt.