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 Full Defense Packet only when you are ready.
The founder did not build this from a marketing survey. John DiSalle was sued by Plaza Services in Eau Claire County, Wisconsin. He responded pro se, moved to compel arbitration under the account agreement, and the case was dismissed after the plaintiff failed the arbitration path. No guarantee.
— John DiSalle, founder · Public record: WCCA Case 2025SC000885
Full Defense Packet - $99, one-time. No subscription.
You review, sign, file, and serve the documents yourself unless a separate eligible filing service clearly says otherwise.
Answered gives you plain-English filing and service checklists, clerk-call prompts, reminders, and proof-saving steps so the next move is organized instead of improvised.
Not served with court papers yet? Use Pre-Suit Defense for nationwide debt validation and limited-contact letters.
Supported states checked before payment
Full Defense Packet - $99, one-time. No subscription.
Founder proof: Plaza Services · WCCA 2025SC000885
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 when the readiness check passes.
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, plaintiff, court, and debt-case type pass the readiness check. You review, sign, and file.
One first paid step
Full Defense Packet - $99 — the urgent response packet plus the proof-issue report, checklists, and workspace tools in one unlock. One-time, no subscription.
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 Full Defense Packet, then file and serve using the included checklists. The workspace tools are included for what comes next.
Why this exists
John DiSalle filed an Answer, moved to compel arbitration under the account agreement, and Plaza Services LLC v. DiSalle was dismissed without prejudice on April 9, 2026 after the plaintiff failed the arbitration path. No guarantee. But Answered was built by someone who actually stood on the defendant side of a debt-buyer case.
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
Free guides, readiness-gated checkout
Consumer debt lawsuit defense in 32 states. Start free — Answered checks whether it can build your defense before you pay anything.
Consumer debt lawsuit defense in 32 states. Start free — Answered checks whether it can build your defense before you pay anything.
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: Full Defense Packet - $99, one payment with everything included — no subscription. Consumer debt lawsuit defense in 32 states. Start free — Answered checks whether it can build your defense before you pay anything. Check your deadline free before any paid packet decision. 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 filing deadline depends on your state — as short as 14 days in Texas, up to 35 days in New Jersey, with many states in the 20-to-30-day range. Your summons and court rules control; verify the exact date first.
Ready to defend your case?
Full Defense Packet - $99, one-time. No subscription.
You review, sign, file, and serve the documents yourself unless a separate eligible filing service clearly says otherwise.
Answered gives you plain-English filing and service checklists, clerk-call prompts, reminders, and proof-saving steps so the next move is organized instead of improvised.