Check my deadline free
Sued for debt? Check your deadline and prepare a file-ready Answer Packet.
Enter the case basics from your summons. Answered checks whether the workflow can help, then lets you unlock the Answer Packet or Defense Workspace only when you are ready.
“I was sued by a debt buyer in Eau Claire, WI in 2025 and defended the case myself. I built Answered so you don’t have to figure it out alone.”
— John DiSalle, founder
File-Ready Answer Packet - $60. Defense Workspace - $99. No subscription.
You file and serve the documents yourself unless you add available mail filing.
Answered gives you plain-English filing and service checklists, reminders, and proof-of-service steps so filing feels like following a checklist instead of figuring out court procedure from scratch.
Not served with court papers yet? Use Pre-Suit Defense for nationwide debt validation and limited-contact letters.
Supported states checked before payment
File-Ready Answer Packet - $60. Defense Workspace - $99. No subscription.
Built from a real pro se debt-defense experience
What Answered does
A guided case preview — not just a blank form
Answered turns lawsuit papers into deadlines, debt-buyer proof issues, and self-help filing workflows for supported consumer debt cases.
Never miss your filing deadline
We estimate your Answer deadline from the dates you confirm and remind you before important filing steps.
See the proof issues your papers may reveal
Many consumer debt cases turn on procedure, timing, ownership, and documentation. We turn possible issues into a plain-English case preview.
Get filing-formatted self-help documents
Built from the details you confirm after Answered checks whether your state and court path are supported. You review, sign, and file.
Two simple paid choices
File-Ready Answer Packet - $60 for the core response packet, or Defense Workspace - $99 when you also want proof-challenge workflows and next-step tools.
How it works
Enter your case basics. We do the rest.
Works in a browser or on your phone. No app install required for the web version.
Enter case basics
Use your summons details: plaintiff, state, court, amount, and service date.
Review your Answer path
Confirm the deadline and filing details before unlocking your packet.
File your defense
Unlock the File-Ready Answer Packet or Defense Workspace, then file and serve using the included checklists.
Why this exists
I was sued by a debt buyer in Eau Claire, Wisconsin in 2025. I couldn’t afford a lawyer, so I researched my own defense end-to-end. I built Answered from that experience so you don’t have to assemble it from scratch.
Honest about what we are. Answered is a self-help legal tool, not a law firm. We don’t give legal advice and we don’t replace an attorney. If you can afford a lawyer, hire one. If you can’t — which is most people — Answered helps you understand the next filing step and prepare self-help documents.
Coverage
Supported states, checked before payment
Check your deadline free. Answered supports live core checkout in 32 registry states and checks your court path, case type, and add-on eligibility before you pay. Answered focuses on validated consumer-debt workflows, especially debt-buyer cases where deadlines, ownership, amount, and proof issues matter.
Answered supports live core Answer Packet and Defense Workspace checkout in every public registry state, while still checking court track, case type, and add-on eligibility before payment.
Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin
Common questions
What people ask before they start
Is this legal advice?
No. Answered is a self-help legal tool, not a law firm. We don't give legal advice and we can't represent you in court. What we do is help you organize your case, flag possible issues to review, and produce self-help documents from the information you confirm. The choices are still yours.
Will this actually work?
It depends on your case. Many consumer debt cases have procedural weaknesses — expired statutes of limitations, missing chain of assignment, unverified complaints — and a defendant who files a response changes what the plaintiff has to prove. We surface possible issues and put them in front of you. What happens after that depends on your facts, your state, and the judge.
Do I need a lawyer instead?
If you can afford one, hire one. A consumer-rights attorney who knows debt collection cases will always be the strongest option. Most people who get sued by debt buyers can't afford that — that's who Answered is built for.
What if I lose?
Filing a response is almost always better than ignoring the lawsuit. If you ignore the case, the court can enter a default judgment for the full amount, plus fees and interest, and collection can follow where allowed. If you file a response, the plaintiff generally has to prove its case. Outcomes still depend on your facts, court, and state law.
How is this different from credit repair?
Credit repair is a recurring monthly subscription that promises to fix your credit report and almost always under-delivers. Answered is a one-time tool to defend a specific lawsuit: File-Ready Answer Packet - $60 or Defense Workspace - $99. Check your deadline free. We check whether your state and court path are supported before you pay. We don't touch your credit, we don't make ongoing claims, and we don't take payment until you're ready to prepare filings. Different product entirely.
What happens after I file?
You'll typically get a court date or a settlement offer. Some cases are dismissed once the plaintiff sees a defendant who's filed and pushed back; others go through discovery and motions; a smaller share go to a hearing. We guide you through what comes next based on what your case looks like.
Is my data safe?
Yes — and we take this seriously because what you're uploading is sensitive. Your documents and case data are stored on Supabase (encrypted Postgres infrastructure), accessible only to your account. Answered is operated by ellaSiD LLC, a single-founder company. We don't sell data, we don't share it with third parties, and we don't claim certifications we don't have.
How long does this take?
Most users complete an Answer in 30 to 60 minutes once they have their summons in hand. The deadline to file is typically 20 to 30 days from the date you were served, depending on your state.
Ready to defend your case?
File-Ready Answer Packet - $60. Defense Workspace - $99. No subscription.
You file and serve the documents yourself unless you add available mail filing.
Answered gives you plain-English filing and service checklists, reminders, and proof-of-service steps so filing feels like following a checklist instead of figuring out court procedure from scratch.