The written response must be made within 20 days of personal service, or within 30 days of the time when service by any other means is complete. If the defendant fails to respond he or she is in default and plaintiff may be able to obtain a default judgment against the defendant.
After a summons with notice is served, the defendant will demand that the plaintiff serve a complaint. The plaintiff must then have the complaint served within 20 days after being served with the demand, or the case may be dismissed.
On a separate page or pages, write a short and plain statement of the answer to the allegations in the complaint. Number the paragraphs. The answer should correspond to each paragraph in the complaint, with paragraph 1 of the answer corresponding to paragraph 1 of the complaint, etc.
Typically, a plaintiff verifies a complaint by attaching a page at the end containing a statement made under oath that: The plaintiff has reviewed the complaint. The plaintiff knows or believes that all allegations that the plaintiff has personal knowledge of to be true.
You would respond to the court with a general denial of all of the allegations regarding you owing the debt and the actual amount of the debt. What you do is copy the heading on the top of the complaint and then under that you title your document Answer.
You can either answer the summons in writing or in person. If you answer in person, you must go to the courthouse clerk's office and tell the clerk about your defenses to the plaintiff's claims. The clerk will check off the boxes in a Consumer Credit Transaction Answer In Person form.
For assistance you may call (631) 853-4600 Monday through Friday, from 9am to 4 pm. Note: To initiate a complaint, you must complete and sign the complaint form and then send it back to us with the required documentation.
Be clear and brief Cover all the relevant points but be as brief as you can. Make it easy to read by using numbered lists and headings to highlight the important issues. Give your contact telephone and email details, as well as your address.
Filing your complaint starts your case, but the summons is the document that is issued under the court's authority that notifies your defendant they are being sued and that they need to take action.