Utah Debt Lawsuit Answer Form: what to file, where, and by when
Last verified against official court sources: 2026-07-13
For a Utah district court debt case, the courts publish an official Debt Collection Answer form (1013GE) with a guided online version, due 21 days after in-state service (30 if served out of state) under URCP 12(a)(1). Filing the answer is free. Small claims is completely different: there is no answer at all — you must register on the court's online dispute resolution (ODR) platform within 14 days of service or lose automatically.
Utah has an official debt-specific answer form — and it costs nothing to file
Form 1013GE, "Debt Collection Answer," comes straight from the Utah Courts self-help center, with a guided interview version that fills it in for you. The current Utah Code § 78A-2-301 fee schedule lists no fee for an answer, and the statute makes unlisted filings free — older guides citing a tiered Utah answer fee are out of date. Counterclaims do carry fees ($55–$170 in district court).
The Utah twist
Small claims has no answer — it has a 14-day ODR tripwire
In participating justice courts, a small claims defendant must register on the ODR platform within 14 days of service; the official page says flatly, "You must register within 14 days or you will lose automatically." No answer form exists to file. And because Utah's small claims cap is now $20,000, surprisingly large debt claims ride this track. Exemption from ODR (disability, no internet, limited English) requires form 3006SC.
Deadlines, filing, fees, and service
- Deadline: district court — 21 days after service in Utah, 30 days if served outside Utah (URCP 12(a)(1)). Small claims — register on ODR within 14 days of service.
- Filing: MyCourtCase (the courts' own portal) supports online answer filing for debt collection cases; email, mail, and in-person filing also work for self-represented defendants.
- Fee: $0 to file an answer in district court (Utah Code § 78A-2-301 lists no answer fee and makes unlisted filings free). Counterclaims cost $55–$170.
- Small claims ODR runs at odr.utcourts.gov; the day you are served counts as day 0.
Common questions
Is there an official Utah form to answer a debt collection lawsuit?
Yes — form 1013GE, "Debt Collection Answer," published by the Utah Courts with a guided online version. A typed pleading complying with URCP 10 also works.
Does it cost anything to file an answer in Utah?
No. The current § 78A-2-301 fee schedule has no answer line-item, and the statute provides that unlisted filings are free. Older guides citing a Utah answer fee are stale. Counterclaims do carry a fee.
What if I was sued in Utah small claims court?
There is no answer to file. You must register on the court's online dispute resolution platform within 14 days of being served — the court's own page warns you lose automatically if you miss it.
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.