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How to file an Answer in a civil court debt collection case

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Greater Boston Legal Services
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Use this guide if you have been served a debt collection lawsuit and received a Complaint. You can also download this guide as a PDF.

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Why should I file an Answer?

If you want to defend the lawsuit, you must file an Answer. In the Complaint, the person suing you (the Plaintiff) tells the court about the debts they think you owe. You are the Defendant. Your response to the Complaint is called an Answer. 

 If you do not file an Answer, the court will enter a Default Judgment against you. This means that the Plaintiff automatically wins the case.

What do I say in my Answer?

An Answer is your chance to tell the court your side of the story: What in the Complaint is true? What is not true? Did the Plaintiff follow the rules of civil court? 

See the PDF version of this guide for a blank, printable Answer template you can fill out yourself on page 2. See page 3  for extra instructions on how to fill out your Answer.

where-when
Where and when do I file an Answer?

Remember to save a copy for yourself!

  • Mail the Plaintiff a copy of the Answer within 20 days of receiving the Complaint. 
    • Find the Plaintiff's address on the Summons.
    • If Plaintiff’s attorney’s address is on the Summons, send the copy to them.
  • Mail the original Answer to the court within 5 days of mailing the Plaintiff’s copy. 
What happens after I file an Answer?

After you file an Answer with the court:

  • The court clerk will give or mail you a court date for you and the Plaintiff to come back to court.
    • This will probably be for a Case Management Conference or a Pre-Trial Hearing. 
    • If you do not get a date 30 days after you have filed your Answer, call the clerk's office at your court. Ask them for the date. 
  • If you or the Plaintiff filed a Motion, you will probably go back to court sooner. Look for a "Hearing Date" listed in any motion you get.
What if I still need help?

You can reach out to Greater Boston Legal Services’ Consumer Rights Unit for advice. We can’t take every case, but will try our best to help.  

  • Call our intake line at 617-603-1671
  • Email us at [email protected]
  • Contact Eastern Regional Legal Intake Helpline at 617-603-1700

For more information, see the Debt Collection section of this website.

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The next step in the court process is called Discovery. If the Plaintiff sends you Discovery requests, you are required to respond. As the Defendant, you also have the option to send Discovery requests to the Plaintiff. See How to get Discovery in a Debt Collection Case in Civil Court to learn more.

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