0:00 Intro
0:26 Step 1: Read the summons and complaint.
1:00 Step 2: Fill out a court-provided answer form or draft your own.
1:58 Step 3: File the form with the court
2:30 Mail a copy of the answer form to the plaintiff
2:52 Why it’s important to respond to the lawsuit.
3:12 What happens if you don’t respond to the lawsuit
3:30 Where to get help if you need it
OTHER USEFUL VIDEOS IN THIS SERIES
📹 • How To Read and Unders...
📹 • Understanding Debt Law...
📹 • What Happens if You Do...
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
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🌐 For more information on how to answer a court summons without a lawyer, visit: bit.ly/respondtosummons
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Key Takeaways:
Most people who get sued for credit card debt, medical debt, or any other kind of debt, don’t realize they can respond to the lawsuit without hiring an attorney to help. It’s usually as simple as filling out and mailing some paperwork.
Here are the three steps:
Step 1: Read the summons and complaint.
The summons and complaint are official court documents. Usually, someone will serve you with these documents in person or leave them with an adult at your home. In some cases, the debt collector can mail them to you.
The summons notifies you that you’re being sued and gives you a deadline for responding. The complaint explains who is suing you, why they’re suing you, and how much they’re suing you for.
We do a deep dive into these documents in our video on How To Read and Understand Court Papers ( • How To Read and Unders... ) so check that out to learn more about this step.
Step 2: Fill out a court-provided answer form or draft your own.
The form you use to respond to a debt lawsuit is called an answer form. It’s where you respond to the claims made against you in the complaint by telling the judge you agree, disagree, or don't have enough information.
It’s also where you get to explain any defenses you have. Understanding defenses can be one of the trickiest parts of filling out an answer form. We can't tell you what defenses apply to you, we did make a video to explain the most common defenses in debt lawsuits. Check out our video to learn more.
Luckily, many courts provide blank answer forms you can either download and print from their website or pick up in person at the court. Check your court’s website or call the court clerk if you need help finding this form.
You’ll also want to check to see if your court has any other required forms you need to fill out and submit for debt collection lawsuits.
Step 3: File the form.
Before you file your answer form with the court, make at least two copies. File the original answer form with the court, mail a copy to the person or company suing you, and keep one copy for your records.
To file your answer, you usually mail it to the courthouse or submit it to the court clerk in person. Some courts allow you to e-mail or e-file your form… you need to check your local court rules to see what’s allowed. Some courts explain your filing options in the summons, so it can be helpful to check that first.
After you file with the court, you need to give the plaintiff - the person suing you - a copy of your answer form. You can usually send this via mail. It’s a good idea to send it as certified mail so you have proof that it was delivered.
You can find the plaintiff’s name and address on the summons or complaint.
Sending your answer form to the plaintiff isn't just a procedural step; it's a powerful statement. It tells the debt collector that you're ready to defend yourself. This move alone can sometimes persuade them to back off. Most debt collectors don’t want to spend the time and money it takes to fight a court battle.
They’re hoping you don’t respond so they can win without putting up a fight. If you don’t respond to the lawsuit, it won’t won’t just go away. In fact, it almost guarantees the debt collector a win. And if the debt collector wins they can get a court order to garnish your wages or freeze your bank account.
The good news is that most people can fight back without hiring a lawyer by following the three steps in this video.