Sued or served for debt?

Do not guess your next step. Save the case before a default judgment.

If court papers, a summons, or a debt-collection lawsuit landed in your hands, the first job is deadline control. Answered helps you check the state and court path, save the case, and see whether your facts match the readiness check before you pay.

Quick answer

If you were sued for debt, first check the deadline on your summons.

Default can happen if you do nothing, but the right response depends on your state, court track, service date, plaintiff, and case type.

  • First: check your deadline free and confirm whether your case passes the readiness check.
  • Second: use free state guidance if it does not; prepare the Answer Packet path only if the case fits.
Check your deadline free

Case fit check

Check whether Answered may apply

Select state, plaintiff, court type if known, and service date before choosing a paid path.

$0 to start

Start with your state.

Then add plaintiff, court type if known, and service date from your summons. Upload can come next.

Don’t have your service date handy? Start free and upload your papers — Answered reads the date off your summons.

No lawsuit yet — just collector calls or letters? Pre-suit letters start at $35 →

$0 to check. One paid unlock if Answered can build your defense: the Full Defense Packet - $99, one-time. Prefer it handled? Filed-For-You totals $149 with Mail Filing where available. 60-day court-acceptance guarantee.

You pay only after your deadline and a preview. Self-help software, not a law firm.

32-state Full Defense Packet eligibility

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. Start free. Full Defense Packet - $99 only if your case passes the readiness check — one unlock covers the Answer, proof-issue report, checklists, and workspace tools. No subscription.

Three things to know before you do anything else.

The page is not just a directory. Use it to move from panic to a saved case, then decide whether to unlock documents after the case-fit check.

What is my deadline?Use your service date, court date, and state. The summons and docket control.
Can Answered help?Answered checks your state, court listed on your papers, and case type before payment.
What do I get first?A saved case, deadline prompts, plaintiff/court fields, and a preview before unlock.

Answered checks the state, court, case type, plaintiff, required filing fields, deadline safety, and high-risk signals before any Answer Packet payment. If your case appears outside the readiness gate, checkout is blocked or routed to free resources instead of selling you the wrong packet.

Founder proof

Built by someone who actually fought a debt buyer pro se.

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. Read the founder case study or check the public WCCA record for Case 2025SC000885. No guarantee.

Pricing clarity

No subscription. Pay only if you unlock.

Consumer debt lawsuit defense in 32 states. Start free — Answered checks whether it can build your defense before you pay anything. Start free. Full Defense Packet - $99 if your case passes the readiness check — one-time, no subscription. Individual attorney review is not currently sold. Answered is self-help software from ellaSiD LLC, not a law firm. 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.

Anonymized progress proof

Answered publishes anonymized case-progress signals.

Users can opt in to share progress such as an Answer filed, default status, proof issue found, settlement reached, or dismissal reported. Answered does not publish names, case numbers, account details, debt amounts, courts, or small-sample aggregates. No outcome is guaranteed.

TrackingAnswers prepared

Users reported getting a response packet prepared instead of staying stuck at the summons stage.

TrackingPackets downloaded

Users reported downloading their generated packet after payment and review.

TrackingAnswers filed

Users reported getting a response prepared and filed instead of ignoring the lawsuit.

TrackingFilings accepted

Users reported the clerk accepted their filing after they used Answered to prepare it.

Public counts appear only after at least 10 users opt in for a signal and the signal passes moderation. This keeps early outcomes useful without making one user identifiable.

State guides

Pick your state if you want to read first

The fastest path is upload or manual entry. Use the state guides when you want deadline, default, and statute-of-limitations context before starting. Support is checked before payment. Consumer debt lawsuit defense in 32 states. Start free — Answered checks whether it can build your defense before you pay anything.

Alabama
14 days to answer · 3-year SOL
Arizona
20 days to answer · 6-year SOL
California
30 days to answer · 4-year SOL
Colorado
Answer due by the return date on your summons · 6-year SOL
Connecticut
30 days to answer · 6-year SOL
Florida
20 days to answer · 5-year SOL
Georgia
30 days to answer · 6-year SOL
Illinois
30 days to answer · 5-year SOL
Indiana
20 days to answer · 6-year SOL
Iowa
20 days to answer · 5-year SOL
Kentucky
20 days to answer · 5-year SOL
Louisiana
21 days to answer · 3-year SOL
Maryland
15 days to answer · 3-year SOL
Massachusetts
20 days to answer · 6-year SOL
Michigan
21 days to answer · 6-year SOL
Minnesota
20 days to answer · 6-year SOL
Missouri
30 days to answer · 5-year SOL
Nevada
21 days to answer · 4-year SOL
New Jersey
35 days to answer · 6-year SOL
New York
20 days to answer · 3-year SOL
North Carolina
30 days to answer · 3-year SOL
Ohio
28 days to answer · 6-year SOL
Oklahoma
20 days to answer · 5-year SOL
Oregon
30 days to answer · 6-year SOL
Pennsylvania
20 days to answer · 4-year SOL
South Carolina
30 days to answer · 3-year SOL
Tennessee
30 days to answer · 6-year SOL
Texas
14 days to answer · 4-year SOL
Utah
21 days to answer · 6-year SOL
Virginia
21 days to answer · 3-year SOL
Washington
20 days to answer · 6-year SOL
Wisconsin
Answer due by the return date on your summons · 6-year SOL

Get started

Already have your summons in hand? Skip the guide.

Start with the deadline and case-fit check. Answered checks the state, court listed on your papers, plaintiff, and debt-case type before checkout, then lets you unlock documents only if the saved case passes the readiness check.

Check your deadline free

FAQ

Common questions if you were sued for debt

General information, not legal advice. Your summons, docket, and state rules control the specifics.

What should I do first if I was sued for debt?
Find the response deadline on your summons and calendar it. Most states give you a limited number of days from the date you were served to file a written Answer, and doing nothing can lead to a default judgment. Confirm your state and court track before deciding how to respond.
What happens if I ignore a debt lawsuit?
If you do not respond by the deadline, the plaintiff can ask the court for a default judgment — a ruling against you without the case being decided on the merits. In many states a judgment can lead to wage garnishment or bank levies, so responding on time preserves your defenses.
Do I have to prove I do not owe the debt?
No. The plaintiff has to prove its case — that it owns the account, the amount is correct, and the claim is timely and supported by usable records. Filing an Answer keeps those proof questions open instead of conceding them by default.
Can I respond to a debt lawsuit myself?
Many people respond to consumer debt lawsuits without a lawyer. Answered is self-help software that helps you check your deadline, see what the plaintiff must prove, and prepare a self-help Answer if your case fits — it is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. If you can afford a lawyer, hire one.

This page provides general information only. It is not legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Statutes and procedural rules change. Always verify deadlines with your court clerk or a licensed attorney in your state.

Sued for debt?

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