Form to Respond to a Debt Collection Lawsuit

An Answer is designed to help you in responding to a debt collection claim. Two Answer forms are included below:

• Answer form (PDF version, fillable if opened with Adobe Acrobat Reader.)
• Answer form (This online Answer Writer, created in collaboration with SMU's Dedman School of Law, asks you a series of questions that are then used to create your custom Answer.)

If you decide to use the Answer form, you must turn it in to the appropriate court by the filing deadlines:

In Texas, you have 14-20 days to answer, depending on the court.  

In county/district court, the answer is due at 10 a.m. on the Monday following 20 days from when you were served.

In JP/Justice Court, the answer is due by the end of the 14th day after you were served. If the 14th day is a Saturday, Sunday, or court-observed holiday, your answer is due by the end of the first day following the 14th day that is not a Saturday, Sunday, or court-observed holiday. 

Turn in your completed answer form at the Courthouse where the Petition was filed and send a copy of the completed form to the Plaintiff or the Plaintiff’s attorney.

 If you do not file an Answer by the deadline, the Plaintiff can ask the court to enter a default judgment against you, which means you lose automatically.