Kentucky Debt Lawsuit Answer Form: what to file, where, and by when
Last verified against official court sources: 2026-07-13
Kentucky publishes no official answer form for civil or debt cases — you draft a written answer on plain paper and file it within 20 days of service (Ky. CR 12.01). The warning is printed on the AOC-105 summons itself: without a written defense within 20 days, "judgment by default may be taken against you." Filing the answer is free.
No official form — the summons itself tells you the rule
The Kentucky Court of Justice legal-forms library has no defendant's answer form for civil cases. You type a caption matching the summons, admit or deny each numbered paragraph, add affirmative defenses, sign, file with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk, and mail a copy to the plaintiff's attorney. Small claims works differently — no written answer exists; defendants respond orally at the hearing — but debt buyers cannot file there (see below).
The Kentucky twist
Debt buyers are banned from Kentucky small claims
The official small claims handbook bars collection agencies and "a person or organization with an assigned claim" from filing in the Small Claims Division. So the informal show-up-and-talk process is exactly the one a debt-buyer defendant never sees — you will get a district court civil summons that requires a written answer in 20 days. Second trap: self-represented defendants cannot e-file district or circuit civil answers in Kentucky (KYeCourts allows pro se e-filing for small claims only) — your answer goes to the clerk on paper.
Deadlines, filing, fees, and service
- Deadline: a written defense within 20 days following the day the summons is delivered (Ky. CR 12.01; warning printed on the AOC-105 summons).
- Filing: paper with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk, in person or by mail — pro se e-filing is limited to small claims cases.
- Fee: $0 — the July 2026 fee schedule (Supreme Court Order 2026-15) lists no answer fee; defendant-side charges exist only for third-party complaints and jury demands.
- Venue: District Court has exclusive jurisdiction up to $5,000 (KRS 24A.120); larger claims go to Circuit Court.
Common questions
Is there an official Kentucky form to answer a debt collection lawsuit?
No. Kentucky publishes no statewide answer form — you draft a written answer responding to each allegation and file it with the circuit court clerk within 20 days.
Does it cost anything to file an answer in Kentucky?
No. Kentucky's civil fee schedule charges filing fees to the party starting the case; no answer fee appears anywhere in the current schedule.
Can I e-file my answer in Kentucky?
Not in a district or circuit civil case. KYeCourts currently allows self-represented litigants to e-file small claims only — debt-lawsuit answers are filed on paper with the clerk.
Primary sources
This page provides general legal information verified against the official sources linked above; it is not legal advice, and court rules change — confirm current requirements with your clerk of court. Answered is self-help software, not a law firm. If you can afford a lawyer, hire one.