Through bibliographic, legislative and case law review, especially the decisions from Minas Gerais, this work seeks to clarify the formalities and peculiarities of the summons institute, notably regarding its procedural and material function, legal nature, effects and modalities, with main focus on the summonses occurred through electronic means and the formal impossibility of its realization through the messenger application WhatsApp, with a brief explanation on the bill that aims to regulate the summonses by the application and the new modalities of compliance with procedural acts in the midst of facing the pandemic caused by the Coronavirus.