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How to Answer a Summons for Debt Collection in New York (2024 Guide)

Hannah Locklear | July 31, 2024

Hannah Locklear
Editor at SoloSuit
Hannah Locklear, BA

Hannah Locklear is SoloSuit’s Marketing and Impact Manager. With an educational background in Linguistics, Spanish, and International Development from Brigham Young University, Hannah has also worked as a legal support specialist for several years.

Fact-checked by George Simons, JD/MBA

George Simons
Co-Founder of SoloSuit
George Simons, JD/MBA

George Simons is the co-founder and CEO of SoloSuit. He has helped Americans protect over $1 billion from predatory debt lawsuits. George graduated from BYU Law school in 2020 with a JD/MBA. In his spare time, George likes to cook, because he likes to eat.

Summary: You have 10-30 days to respond to a debt collection lawsuit in New York. You can use the SoloSuit Answer form or other state forms to help you get started. In your Answer, respond to each issue of the Complaint and assert your affirmative defenses. Then file the Answer in court and send a copy to the plaintiff. Since the statute of limitations on debt is only three years in New York, and you can use this as a defense to get your case dismissed.

Getting sued is one of the most stressful experiences a person can have — especially if you're already struggling to get out from under debt.

Lucky for you, we’ve created this guide to show you how to respond to a Summons for debt collection in New York. This includes state-specific deadlines, fees, forms, and laws you should know. But first, let’s explain how a debt lawsuit works in New York and go over some definitions.

Respond to a Summons in New York.

Sued for debt in New York? SoloSuit can help you file an Answer into your case before the deadline.

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  • Defendant: this is you, or the person/company being sued.
  • Plaintiff: this is the creditor or debt collector that is suing you.
  • Summons: this is the legal document that notifies you of the lawsuit.
  • Complaint: this is the legal document that lists all the reasons you’re being sued, also known as claims or allegations.

When you get sued for debt in New York, you’ll receive a Summons and Complaint. It can be delivered to you (or “served”) in three ways: hand-delivery to you personally, hand-delivery to a suitable person at your residence and mailing copies, or leaving the papers at a reasonable place where you’re likely to find them and mailing copies.

Once you’ve received notice of a debt lawsuit against you, the clock starts ticking for you to respond by filing a written Answer into the case.

Keep reading to learn how to draft and file your Answer in New York.

Table of Contents

Answer a New York debt lawsuit before the deadline

As noted above, you only have a short period to respond to a Summons and Complaint:

  • 10 days if the papers were handed to you personally and the case is outside of New York City, or
  • 20 days if the papers were handed to you personally in New York City, or
  • 30 days if the papers were delivered in any other way.

This includes weekends and holidays.

If you don't file your Answer by this deadline, usually the plaintiff will automatically win when the court orders a default judgment against you.

Default judgments typically give the plaintiff everything they ask for, including interest and court fees. This means you may end up owing much more than your original debt — without even being able to tell your side of the story! It also grants them the ability to take money from your paychecks or your bank accounts. The judgment will also show up on your credit report, where it can stay for years.

You can avoid a default judgment by filing an Answer on time and showing up at all hearings.

New York Answer to Summons forms

The easiest and fastest way to draft a response to a debt collection lawsuit is this Answer form. SoloSuit walks you through the process of drafting your Answer in minutes. All you have to do is respond to a few questions about the case.

Here's a sample of SoloSuit's Answer form.

Otherwise, you can create your own Answer or use New York’s general form. While these two options are still better than ignoring the case, you may find that it takes longer to respond on your own or fill out a form without any guidance.

SoloSuit walks you through the process of drafting an Answer that will build you a strong case. You won't have to hire an attorney to represent you with this process because of SoloSuit's software that makes responding simple and easy.

Answer Filing Fees for New York

Great news! You don't have to pay a fee to file your Answer in New York.

However, depending on the court, you may have to pay fees to file other types of documents, such as motions. You can find a list of filing fees on NYCourts.gov.

Follow these steps to respond to a debt collection case in New York

If you've been sued for debt in New York, you might think you have to hire an attorney to fight back. SoloSuit empowers you to represent yourself in court, saving yourself the time, cost, and stress of finding an attorney.

Follow these three steps to respond to a debt lawsuit in New York and increase your chances of winning by 7x:

  1. Answer each issue of the Complaint.
  2. Assert your affirmative defenses.
  3. File the Answer with the court and serve the plaintiff.

Keep reading to learn more about these three steps, otherwise, you can check out this video:

1. Answer each issue of the Complaint

Responding to a Complaint on your own might seem scary. But it doesn't have to be.

At the beginning of a lawsuit, you can just make a general denial of all claims in the Complaint. This is because in a consumer debt case, the plaintiff has the “burden of proof.” This means that it's up to the plaintiff to show evidence that:

  • They have the right to sue you,
  • The debt belongs to you, and
  • You owe the exact amount asked for in the Complaint.

By making a general denial, you can force the plaintiff to come up with that evidence. Or if you want, you can also respond to each numbered paragraph in your Answer by stating one of the following:

  • You admit the claim.
  • You deny the claim.
  • You don't know if the claim is true.

SoloSuit helps you understand how to respond.

2. Assert affirmative defenses

Your defenses are another key part of your Answer. Your defenses are the reasons why the plaintiff shouldn't win the case.

Below are some common defenses in a debt collection case. Every case is different, so only include the defenses you think may apply to your case. You can have multiple defenses, including defenses different than the ones listed below.

  • Improper service. There are specific rules for how a Summons and Complaint can be delivered to you. If the plaintiff didn't follow these rules, you should raise this defense.
  • You paid all or some of the money. You can use this defense if you paid all or some of the debt that the plaintiff is asking for. If you only paid part of the money, this may only be a partial defense.
  • No business relationship with the plaintiff. If you don't know the plaintiff, you should state this in your Answer. But that doesn't mean you don't owe them money. This is because some companies, called “debt buyers,” make money by buying and collecting debt. This practice is legal. So it's possible your original creditor sold your debt to a party that you don't know.
  • Unjust enrichment. You can use this defense if you think the plaintiff is asking for an amount of money that's excessive compared to your original debt amount. But keep in mind that over time, interest can significantly increase the amount you originally owed.
  • Unconscionability. You can use this defense when the agreement that resulted in your debt was extremely one-sided and unfair.
  • Statute of limitations has lapsed. The statute of limitations is the legal deadline for filing a lawsuit (see “Statute of Limitations on Debt in New York” below). If you think the deadline has passed, you can use this defense.
  • Debt was discharged in bankruptcy. You can use this defense if you declared bankruptcy and the debt you're being sued for was discharged. Discharging debt in bankruptcy means you no longer owe the money.
  • You're a victim of identity theft. Identity theft is when someone steals your personal information and engages in transactions pretending to be you. If this happened to you, you can use this as a defense. You're not responsible for any debt incurred by the identity thief.

SoloSuit makes it easy to assert the right affirmative defenses.

The list above isn't complete — you may have other defenses. Some localities (such as New York City) also have special legal defenses that aren't available elsewhere.

You should be sure to include all your defenses in your Answer. But keep in mind that financial hardship alone is not a defense. Unfortunately, a creditor can still win a case against you, even if you've lost your job or have mounting medical bills.

3. File the Answer with the court and serve the plaintiff

Once you've completed your Answer, it's time to file. Make sure you give yourself plenty of time before the deadline to do this.

SoloSuit files for you in all 50 states.

If you got an e-filing notice with the Summons, you can serve and file your Answer online using the New York State Courts Electronic Filing system. If you don't want to file online, you should file your Answer in the court where the case was started. Be sure to keep a copy for yourself.

You'll also have to serve the plaintiff with a copy of your Answer. You can do this by having someone 18 or older (not you or anyone involved in the case) mail a copy to the plaintiff.

If the plaintiff has a lawyer, the lawyer should get a copy of your Answer by mail, too. The person who mails your Answer for you will then have to fill out an Affidavit of Service by Mail form. You should file this proof of service form with the court and keep a copy for yourself.

If you have any questions about how to properly file and serve your Answer, you should contact the court clerk's office. Some courts even let you tell your Answer to the clerk in person.

Once you've filed your Answer, the court clerk will give you information about the first hearing and other next steps.

Draft and file an Answer online in minutes with SoloSuit.

Now, let’s take a look at an example of responding to a debt lawsuit in New York.

Example: Danny is being sued by LVNV Funding in New York. The Summons and Complaint were delivered to him personally in Oneida County, meaning he has 20 days to respond to the lawsuit. Danny uses SoloSuit to draft and file an Answer into the case. In his Answer document, Danny denies most of the claims and lists the expired statute of limitations on debt as one of his affirmative defenses. Since Danny hasn’t been active on his debt account for nearly seven years, LVNV Funding cannot sue him since the NY statute of limitations on debt is only three years. When the LVNV Funding lawyers receive Danny’s Answer, they decide to dismiss the case.


>>Read the FastCompany article: Debt Lawsuits Are Complicated: This Website Makes Them Simpler To Navigate

>>Read the NPR story on SoloSuit. (We can help you in all 50 states.)

The statute of limitations on most debt in New York is three years

To sue for unpaid debt, a creditor has to file the lawsuit before a deadline set by law. This is called the statute of limitations.

Under N.Y. Civ. Prac. L. & R. §214-i, the statute of limitations for consumer credit transactions in New York is three years. In other words, the New York statute of limitations on debt is three years for most types of debt.

The three years is counted from the more recent of:

  • When the repayment became due, or
  • When you made the last payment.

After three years, the creditor can no longer sue you. So if you think you're being sued beyond this deadline, you should raise this defense in your Answer.

The table below further outlines the statute of limitations on different types of debt in New York:

Statute of Limitations on Debt in New York
Debt Type Deadline
Credit card 3 years
Medical 3 years
Student loan 3 year
Auto loan 3 years
Personal loan 3 years
Mortgage 6 years
Judgment 20 years
Source: N.Y. C.P.L.R. § 211, § 213, and § 214-I

Settle debt in New York

Settling debt helps you manage your debt situation by reducing the amount and number of debts you have. You will also save money to offset other bills. Offer to settle your debt when a debt collector contacts you multiple times for an outstanding debt. Inform them you can pay the debt only if they reduce the amount to a certain percentage.

Explain to them you are undergoing financial hardship and cannot pay the full amount. You can also settle your debt after receiving a debt collection lawsuit. The following steps focus on the process of settling your debt after you have been sued.

  1. Send an Answer within 35 days of receiving the lawsuit. The law requires you to send a response to the court where the creditor filed the lawsuit. This response helps you explain your side of the story before the court date, but its most important function is protecting your position in the lawsuit and helping you avoid a default judgment. Respond to the claims outlined in the Complaint document and include applicable affirmative defenses section. Use SoloSuit’s Answer form as a guide to improve your chances of winning the case.

  2. Start the negotiation process after sending the Answer. Make a settlement offer you can pay within the shortest time possible, and do not overpromise. The creditor will likely counter your offer, and you must be willing to adjust your position. If the creditor knows your bank details and finds out you have more than enough money, they may reject your offer.

  3. Get everything in writing after you reach an agreement. Avoid making payments before the debt collector signs the debt settlement agreement stating that they are accepting the amount you will be paying as full payment of the debt. Keep the document safe, as you may need it if they try to collect again after a few weeks or months.

Various debt settlement companies are available in New York to help you find a favorable settlement deal. Some take over the entire process and ask you to open a separate account to put the money you are saving for the settlement deal. They will later approach the creditor on your behalf and take a cut of their money after they get a settlement deal. These companies are New Era Debt Solution, United Settlement, and Century Support Services.

SoloSettle takes a different approach and uses technology to enable consumers to take control of negotating through an online platform. This gives more control to the consumer and speeds up the settlement process.

Settle with SoloSettle

Make an Offer

To learn more about these three steps and how SoloSettle can help you throughout the debt settlement process, watch the following video:

New York debt collection laws can protect you

New York cares about its consumers and how debt collectors treat them by having the Consumer Credit Fairness Act (CCFA) in place. The state also uses the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) and New York’s debt collection regulations to monitor how creditors handle debtors. A violation of these New York debt collection laws may cause the debt collector to lose their license, and you may be able to recover damages in court.

The CCFA contains consumer-centric notice requirements that debt collectors must adhere to when communicating about a debt they are suing you for. The notice of a lawsuit should:

  • Be written in English and Spanish.
  • Include a statement informing you of the need to file an Answer before the deadline.
  • Provide links to New York Law Help and the New York government.
  • Explain the consequences of not sending an Answer after receiving the debt collection lawsuit.

In recent years, New York also reduced the statute of limitation on debt from six to three years. This means that a debt collector cannot take you to court for a debt that has passed this period. Debts that qualify for this timeline are auto loans, personal loans, credit card debt, and student loans. The mortgage timeline remains at six years, while judgments last ten years.

The New York Debt Collection Practices Act borrows heavily from the FDCPA and outlines various laws that debt collectors should adhere to as they try to get their money. They are prohibited from:

  • Engaging in any form of abuse, oppression, or harassment as they communicate with you
  • Using threats, obscenities, and offensive language when calling about a debt
  • Pretending to be law enforcement officers or lawyers
  • Lying or misrepresenting the truth about the debt or their true identity
  • Calling you countless times a day for the same debt or calling at weird hours

The NWDCPA and FDCPA also give you certain rights you can use to stand against an unscrupulous debt collector. For instance, you have a right to debt verification, dispute a debt you doubt its accuracy, send a cease and desist letter to immediately stop all communication, and take legal action when your rights have been violated.

Under federal and New York law, debt collectors also may not use in improper, harassing, or deceptive practices, such as:

  • threatening violence or by using profane language
  • reaching out to people you know, except to get your contact information
  • implying they're a law enforcement agency, government agency, or credit reporting agency
  • misrepresenting the amount of your debt or the legal status of your debt
  • calling you repeatedly and/or at unreasonable times
  • contacting you at work if the debt collector knows your employer doesn't approve of such contact
  • contacting you if you're represented by an attorney (they have to contact your lawyer instead)
  • contacting you after you've stated in writing that you don't want to be contacted (though they can still resort to legal action)

You should keep written records of all contact with debt collectors.

If you think a debt collector is using illegal tactics, you can contact an attorney or file a Complaint with one of the following agencies:

New York State Attorney General
Consumer Frauds & Protection Bureau
120 Broadway
New York, NY 10271
1-800-771-7755
www.ag.ny.gov

Federal Trade Commission
Consumer Response Center
Washington, DC 20508
1-877-382-4357
www.ftc.gov

Facing financial challenges can be overwhelming, but you don't have to navigate them alone. The Debt Lawyer specializes in offering comprehensive bankruptcy solutions for residents of New Jersey and New York with a team of seasoned team of legal professionals dedicated to providing personalized guidance every step of the way. Whether you're considering filing for bankruptcy or just seeking clarity about your financial situation, you have resources.

Now, let's look at one example of New York laws protecting consumers in action with the case of Citibank.

The New York Attorney General is suing Citibank

Citibank, N.A. (Citi) has been sued by New York Attorney General Letitia James for failing to safeguard consumers from fraudulent business practices and refusing to reimburse the victims. The lawsuit states that Citibank failed to offer enough online protection measures. This failure on their part led to unauthorized account breaches and misleading consumers about their rights after an account breach.

Citibank violated the federal consumer protection laws. Its faulty security measures caused many New Yorkers to lose significant amounts of money that they had set aside for various purposes.

For example, one resident lost her retirement savings amounting to $40,000 after falling for a scam via a deceptive text. Despite reporting the questionable interaction, Citibank did not respond promptly to address the situation. Another New Yorker lost $35,000 after Citibank approved a fraudulent transaction requested through a wire transfer. They did not do their due diligence, which required proper verification. These examples led the Attorney General's office to identify several shortcomings:

  • Citibank’s lack of response to warning signs, such as unusual account activities and login attempts from unfamiliar gadgets.
  • Poor customer service failed to address the victims’ concerns, enabling the scammers to continue and complete their fraudulent activities.
  • Misleading information provided by Citibank's agents about the consumers’ account security and retrieving the stolen money.

Citibank is accused of exploiting a provision in the Electronic Fund Transfer Act (EFTA) and using it to deny reimbursing the victims their money. The law clearly states that banks must pay back their customers for losses incurred due to unauthorized electronic transactions. This lawsuit is an effort Attorney General James' is making to hold banks and other financial institutions accountable. The aim is to impose penalties on Citibank, seek restitution for the victims, and demand more robust implementation of anti-fraud measures.

New York garnishment laws also protect you

New York garnishment laws permit debt collectors to take a portion of your income in payment for their debt. The process may continue until the debt is paid in full. They cannot start the garnishment process without winning a lawsuit and applying for a Writ of Garnishment. They must also notify you and your employer of the impending cut.

Fortunately, the garnishment laws limit the amount a creditor can take from your income. For instance, they are allowed to take 25% of your disposable income or 10% of your gross wages. In addition, if you earn less than 30 times the minimum wage (currently at $15 in most regions apart from New York City, Long Island, and Westchester), your income cannot undergo garnishment.

New York garnishment laws allow you to file for exemption if you believe the garnishment order will prevent you from taking care of your family or meeting your basic needs. Filing for exemption also applies if the garnishment order touches on earnings that are exempt from garnishment. These include:

  • Veteran benefits
  • Disability benefits
  • Workers compensation benefits
  • Retirement savings
  • Public assistance

Other limitation provisions pertaining to garnishment occur when you are in debt due to taxes, student loans, and child support. The law permits the various parties to garnish your wages without a court judgment, but the amount deducted differs. In child support, the set amount is garnished automatically, and the federal limit is up to 50% of your earnings.

The Department of Education acquires an administrative garnishment order and can take up to 15% of your income for federal student loans. Garnishment for tax defaulting factors in your household size and income and can be garnished without a court order. If you have multiple garnishment orders, the creditors can only take 10% of your gross income or 25% of your disposable wages.

Stop wage garnishment in New York

Once you understand the New York garnishment laws and how they affect you, you can plan how to stop wage garnishment in New York. You can do this at various points of the collection process–after receiving the lawsuit and waiting for the court process and when the garnishment order has been issued. The following is the process to take to reduce the chances of the creditor receiving a garnishment order:

  1. When you receive the lawsuit, the first action to take is to respond with an Answer. The deadline for filing an Answer is 35 days in New York. In the lawsuit, you'll find a Complaint document that you must respond to each allegation with admit, deny, or deny for lack of knowledge. The following section is for listing your affirmative defenses. These are the reasons you are not responsible for the debt or should not pay it.

  2. Review the documents, make copies, and send one to the courthouse indicated in the lawsuit and the second to the creditor. Keep the last one in your record as you prepare for court.

Responding to the lawsuit may prevent wage garnishment because your affirmative defenses may cause the creditor to drop the case. You may win the case if you have enough evidence to support your defenses. If you want to stop wage garnishment after the creditor has received the garnishment order, you can do so by filing for an exemption. In this situation, you want your income to be exempted from garnishment because it is protected by law, or you may fail to meet your family’s basic needs.

Did you know you can avoid your income from being garnished by debt settlement? If you have tried all means to get out of the garnishment order and failed, you can approach the creditor and ask for a settlement deal. SoloSettle can help you to negotiate. We also take care of the paperwork after you get a favorable deal. Learn more from the following video.

How to get debt relief in New York

The average New York resident carries about $9,165 in credit card debt (2nd highest state) and a mortgage of $240,795 (10th largest amount). These figures indicate that you are not alone in the debt challenge you could be experiencing. Debt relief is a viable option to get out of debt. If you are already struggling to provide the necessities for your family, consider the following debt relief programs and check if you qualify:

The above programs can free up money to help you pay off your debt using various debt relief options. For example, you can use the snowball strategy to pay off the smallest debt first but still keep paying the minimum requirements of your other debts. Once you clear the smallest debt, go to the next smallest debt and snowball the payment from the one you paid off until you clear all the debt.

The reverse of the snowball strategy is the avalanche method, where you pay off the largest debt and move to the next largest debt until you clear all balances. These methods encourage you to keep going as you can see the progress made.

Another debt relief option is debt consolidation. This entails getting a new loan to pay off the multiple debts you have, and then you have a single debt to pay. This approach reduces the burden of making separate monthly payments for several debts. It also saves you money if you get a loan with a better interest rate than the other debts combined.

Debt settlement is also a fantastic way to clear your debt, where you pay less than you owe. But you must have a reasonable amount to make a lump-sum payment. You may also need to be prepared to explain why you cannot pay the entire debt amount. You can negotiate for debt settlement on your own using SoloSette or hire a debt settlement company to negotiate on your behalf.

Check the status of your lawsuit in New York

Finding your lawsuit in New York has been made easy by the various options available to its residents. For instance, you can walk into the courthouse and request for them, send a mail with a money order for them to send back the documents, or search online and view or make copies. Before searching for your debt collection lawsuit, you must understand the court structure and where your case belongs. Let’s look at the general court structure:

  • Court of Appeals: Handles cases appealed from the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court.
  • Appellate Division of the Supreme Court: Presides over appeals from the Supreme Court and County Court.
  • Supreme Court: Listens to civil cases with no limits.
  • County Court: Hears cases with monetary limitations of $25,000. It also accepts appeals from City, Town, and Village Courts.
  • Various trial courts: These include City Courts (small claims of up to $5,000), District Courts (small claims of up to $5,000), and Town and Village Courts (small claims of up to $3,000).

Your debt collection case is likely in your county’s City, Village, or Town Court. If you live in New York City, your case is probably in the Civil Court of the City of New York. To find your case number, visit the courthouse indicated in your lawsuit, share your details, and the clerk will find it. You can also search online via the WebCivil eCourt Search Portal. Use the attorney, party, or judge search option to enter your details and search.

Accessing your court records is also possible in New York by visiting the courthouse and using the public terminals to find your case. You may be required to pay a small fee to make copies. The court clerk can also help you locate your case for a small fee. Use the New York WebCivil eCourt Search Portal to find your court records online by entering your case number, party's name, attorney/firm, and judge.

Ask the debt collector to validate your debt

If you've run into hard times, it's possible that more than one creditor is trying to recover money from you.

If you don't pay, after a while creditors often hire a debt collection company like Covington Credit to try to collect the money for them.

You may already be familiar with these companies. Some call from blocked numbers and use aggressive tactics to scare you into paying. And some even try to recover “zombie debt” — debt that you no longer owe for various reasons or maybe isn't even yours!

Any time you're dealing with a debt collector, it's important to know your rights.

For example, when a debt collector contacts you for the first time, by law they must send you a letter within 5 days stating:

  • the debt amount;
  • the creditor's name;
  • a statement that the debt collector will assume the debt is valid unless you dispute the validity of all or any part of the debt within 30 days of receiving the notice; and
  • a statement that if you ask in writing, the debt collector will give you the original creditor's name and address.

If you don't think you owe part or any of the debt, or if you want to know the name and address of the original creditor, you should send a Debt Validation Letter to the debt collector within 30 days by certified mail.

If you do this, the debt collector has to stop trying to collect the debt until it verifies the debt or the original creditor information.

Not sued yet?

Use our Debt Validation Letter.


Out Debt Validation Letter is the best way to respond to a collection letter. Many debt collectors will simply give up after receiving it.


Let's Do It

New York legal aid organizations can help you

If you need help with your case but can't afford a lawyer, you may be able to get free or low-cost services from a legal aid organization. Your annual income will typically have to be at or below a certain level to qualify.

Below are some organizations that may be able to help.

Legal Aid Society of Mid-New York, Inc.
120 Bleecker Street, Utica, NY 13501
(877) 777-6152
www.lasmny.com

Counties served: Broome, Cayuga, Chenango, Cortland, Delaware, Herkimer, Jefferson, Lewis, Madison, Oneida, Onondaga, Oswego, Otsego

Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York, Inc.
95 Central Avenue, Albany, NY 12206
(800) 462-2922
www.lasnny.org

Counties served: Albany, Clinton, Columbia, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Greene, Hamilton, Montgomery, Rensselaer, St. Lawrence, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, Warren, Washington

Legal Assistance of Western New York, Inc.
361 South Main Street, Geneva, NY 14456
(585) 325-2520
www.lawny.org

Counties served: Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chemung, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, Tioga, Tompkins, Wayne, Yates

Legal Services NYC
40 Worth Street, Suite 606, New York, NY 10013
(917) 661-4500
www.legalservicesnyc.org

Counties served: Bronx, Kings, New York, Queens, Richmond

Legal Services of the Hudson Valley
90 Maple Avenue, White Plains, NY 10601
(914) 949-1305
www.lshv.org

Counties served: Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster, Westchester

Nassau/Suffolk Law Services Committee, Inc.
One Helen Keller Way, 5th Floor, Hempstead, NY 11550
(516) 292-8100
www.nslawservices.org

Counties Served: Nassau, Suffolk

Neighborhood Legal Services, Inc.
Main Seneca Building, 237 Main Street, 4th Floor, Buffalo, NY 14203
(716) 847-0650
www.nls.org

Counties served: Erie, Genesee, Niagara, Orleans, Wyoming

New York court locations

Your Summons will tell you the civil court in which you're being sued. If you have questions about how to properly prepare and file your Answer, you can usually talk to the court clerk. You can find the contact information for any court on NYCourts.gov.

And if you're ready to draft and file your Answer through SoloSuit, find your court below:

Key Takeaways

If you're sued for unpaid debt, the most important thing to remember is to file your Answer before the deadline!

Otherwise, the plaintiff may automatically win.

The deadline is 10-20 days from receipt if the Summons and Complaint was delivered to you personally, or 30 days if it was delivered any other way.

Here's a recap of the process:

  • Respond to each issue of the Complaint.
  • Assert your affirmative defenses.
  • File the Answer, and send a copy to the plaintiff.

If you need help with this process, SoloSuit’s got you covered.

SoloSuit is a simple-to-use online application for preparing an Answer to a debt collection Complaint. Preparing your Answer with SoloSuit is free. We can also review, file, and serve the Answer for you for an additional fee.

Don't risk losing your case because you missed the Answer deadline — click here to get started with SoloSuit today.

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How to Answer a Summons for debt collection in all 50 states

Here's a list of guides on how to respond to a debt collection lawsuit in each state:

The Ultimate 50 State Guide

Guides on how to resolve debt with every debt collector

Are you being sued by a debt collector? We’re making guides on how to resolve debt with each one.

Resolve your debt with your creditor

Some creditors, banks, and lenders have an internal collections department. If they come after you for a debt, Solosuit can still help you respond and resolve the debt. Here’s a list of guides on how to resolve debt with different creditors.

Settle your medical debt

Having a health challenge is stressful, but dealing medical debt on top of it is overwhelming. Here are some resources on how to manage medical debt.

Guides on arbitration

If the thought of going to court stresses you out, you’re not alone. Many Americans who are sued for credit card debt utilize a Motion to Compel Arbitration to push their case out of court and into arbitration.

Below are some resources on how to use an arbitration clause to your advantage and win a debt lawsuit.

Stop calls from debt collectors

Do you keep getting calls from an unknown number, only to realize that it’s a debt collector on the other line? If you’ve been called by any of the following numbers, chances are you have collectors coming after you, and we’ll tell you how to stop them.

Federal debt collection laws can protect you

Knowing your rights makes it easier to stand up for your rights. Below, we’ve compiled all our articles on federal debt collection laws that protect you from unfair practices.

Get debt relief in your state

We’ve created a specialized guide on how to find debt relief in all 50 states, complete with steps to take to find relief, state-specific resources, and more.

Debt collection laws in all 50 states

Debt collection laws vary by state, so we have compiled a guide to each state’s debt collection laws to make it easier for you to stand up for your rights—no matter where you live.

Statute of limitations on debt state guides

Like all debt collection laws, the statute of limitations on debt varies by state. So, we wrote a guide on each state’s statutes. Check it out below.

Statute of Limitations on Debt Collection by State (Best Guide)

Check the status of your court case

Don’t have time to go to your local courthouse to check the status of your case? We’ve created a guide on how to check the status of your case in every state, complete with online search tools and court directories.

How to stop wage garnishment in your state

Forgot to respond to your debt lawsuit? The judge may have ordered a default judgment against you, and with a default judgment, debt collectors can garnish your wages. Here are our guides on how to stop wage garnishment in all 50 states.

Other wage garnishment resources

How to settle a debt in your state

Debt settlement is one of the most effective ways to resolve a debt and save money. We’ve created a guide on how to settle your debt in all 50 states. Find out how to settle in your state with a simple click and explore other debt settlement resources below.

How to settle with every debt collector

Not sure how to negotiate a debt settlement with a debt collector? We are creating guides to help you know how to start the settlement conversation and increase your chances of coming to an agreement with every debt collector.

Other debt settlement resources

Personal loan and debt relief reviews

We give a factual review of the following debt consolidation, debt settlement, and loan organizations and companies to help you make an informed decision before you take on a debt.

How to repair and improve your credit score

Debt has a big impact on your credit. Below is a list of guides on how to repair and improve your credit, even while managing major debt.

How to resolve student loan debt

Struggling with student debt? SoloSuit’s got you covered. Below are resources on handling student loan debt.

Civil law legal definitions

You can represent yourself in court. Save yourself the time and cost of finding an attorney, and use the following resources to understand legal definitions better and how they may apply to your case.

Get answers to these FAQs on debt collection

How-to debt guides

Learn more with these additional debt resources


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"Finding yourself on the wrong side of the law unexpectedly is kinda scary. I started researching on YouTube and found SoloSuit's channel. The videos were so helpful, easy to understand and encouraging. When I reached out to SoloSuit they were on it. Very professional, impeccably prompt. Thanks for the service!" – Heather.

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Use our Debt Validation Letter.

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