If you're overwhelmed with debt, there's still hope. Our automated software will help you resolve your debt and move forward.

Reply to a lawsuitSettle your debt

How to Answer a Summons for Debt Collection in Michigan

Written by George Simons, JD/MBA · Edited by Hannah Locklear
Last updated on May 15, 2026

Summary: You have 28 days or less to respond to a debt lawsuit in Michigan. To avoid default judgment, you must file an Answer to the Summons and Complaint. In your Answer, it's best to respond to each claim that's being made against you and assert your affirmative defenses. SoloSuit can help you draft and file an Answer in any Michigan court.

SoloSuit
4.7 (635)

Respond to your debt lawsuit in 15 minutes

SoloSuit helps you draft and file your Answer — attorney-reviewed, with a money-back guarantee.

$2.5B+
Protected
364K+
People Helped
15 min
To Complete

"I won my case using SoloSuit. I input my information and it did the rest."

L
Le Land Verified
Respond to My Lawsuit

100% money-back guarantee

Table of Contents

"I hope the phone call turns out to be a debt collector," — said no one.

Worrying about debt collection is never fun. It gets even more stressful when facing a debt collection lawsuit. It can feel intimidating to need to file an Answer to a summons for a debt collection suit.

Hiring an attorney to defend you might be off the table because if you had extra money to hire one, you would have paid off the debt in the first place! Most of these lawsuits count on that very fact. If you don't respond within a particular period, the court will hold in favor of the filer (or "creditor") with a default judgment.

The other side wins by default if you fail to respond to a lawsuit by filing an Answer. If you fail to respond, the debt collector may be granted a default judgment, which allows them to garnish your wages or your tax returns.

The good news is that SoloSuit is here to help. By following the steps outlined below, you can defend yourself, which is half the battle. This article will help you learn how to answer a summons for debt collection.


Michigan deadline for answering a debt collection Summons

A lawsuit begins when your creditor files a Summons and Complaint. As soon as the creditor files those documents, the clock starts on the case. At that point, you only have a specific period to respond.

In Michigan, the time you have to respond to a Summons for debt collection can vary depending on how you receive the paperwork.

  • 21 days — If you receive the paperwork in person (also called "being served").
  • 28 days — If the paperwork is mailed to you instead.
  • 28 days — If you get the documents outside of Michigan.

How to respond to summons for debt begins when you file and serve your document, which is called an Answer. There are a few essential things to keep in mind:

  • These deadlines are stringent.
  • The clock starts as soon as you are served.
  • Keep in mind that the response times include weekend and non-business holidays. If the 21st (or 28th) day ends up being a day that the court is closed, the deadline is the next day that the court is open.

Again, these deadlines are a no-miss. If you miss it, that's it. You will not defend yourself, and the court will enter a default judgment. While it might be possible to ask the court to set aside the default judgment and give you a chance to respond, that is rare and should not be expected.

The creditor can collect from you once the default judgment is in place.

The default judgment will be for the full amount of money they claim you owe. This means that there's no chance to dispute the amount or whether you even owe the debt in the first place. The most likely way they will collect will be through garnishment. The garnishment will take money out of your paycheck before seeing it. This will undoubtedly put you in a worse financial situation, so make sure you know all deadlines.

Cost Comparison

SoloSuit vs. hiring an attorney

Typical attorney
$1,500+
average cost
Consultations, retainers
hourly billing, delays
SoloSuit
$247
premium package
Attorney-reviewed
filed in 1–6 days
You save $1,250+ vs. an attorney
What's included
Personalized legal Answer document generated
Licensed attorney review (Premium)
Filed with your court + served to opposing counsel
100% money-back guarantee
Get Started

Standard $67 · Premium $247 with attorney review. Filing fees may apply.

Michigan Sample Answer to Complaint Forms

The way that you answer a Summons for debt collection is by drafting and filing your own document, called an Answer. Filing the Answer lets the Court know that you are disputing some or all of the claims made against you. If you do not answer, then the Court assumes the allegations to be true. This again leads to the default judgment.

You can use SoloSuit's Answer form to draft and file your response in minutes online. Just respond to a series of questions about your case, and you'll have a handy, dandy personalized Answer ready to submit to the court and plaintiff. Here's a sample of the SoloSuit Answer form.

Michigan's judicial branch also provides a Statewide Answer form, but you'll have to fill this one out manually, which could take lots of research and time.

By filing an Answer before the deadline, you keep your rights to argue about this matter in court and to get notice of future hearings.

Filing the Answer lets the court know that you are disputing some or all of the claims made against you. If you do not answer, the court assumes the allegations are true. This again leads to the default judgment.

Steps to answer a Summons for debt collection in Michigan

We break responding to a debt collection lawsuit into three stages. We'll look at each one.

  1. Answer each issue of the complaint
  2. Assert your affirmative defenses
  3. File your Answer with the court and send a copy to the plaintiff

Simply by answering the lawsuit, you've already thrown a wrench into the works of the debt collector. Creditors would prefer to sit back, get a default judgment, and start taking your money rather than going to court. But as soon as you challenge them, they have to work harder to show you owe the debt. And you have the chance to prove you do not owe it.

Each of these steps is a fairly formal process that needs to be done correctly. Now, let's break each one down further. Don't like reading? Check out this video:

1. Answer each issue of the Complaint

The Complaint that you receive will likely have several issues set forth. Each issue will be in a separate numbered paragraph. Be sure to answer every paragraph of the Complaint to let the court know which issues you are disputing.

With SoloSuit's Answer form, all you have to do is enter the number of claims or allegations listed in the Complaint document. Then, SoloSuit's software will prompt you to choose one of the following responses for each claim:

  • Admit: like saying, "This is true."
  • Deny: like saying, "Prove it."
  • Deny due to lack of knowledge: like saying, "I don't know."

Keep in mind, most attorney suggest that you deny as many claims as possible. This requires the debt collector or creditor to do more work on their part to prove their case. If they don't have the documentation to prove their claism, the case will most likely be dismissed.

SoloSuit makes it easy to respond to all the paragraphs.

Similarly, Michigan's statewide Answer form has a space for you to respond to each paragraph by checking one of the three boxes that state:

  • I agree with the statements in paragraph 1.
  • I disagree with the statements in paragraph 1 because _________________.
  • I do not know if the statements in paragraph 1 are true.

The downloadable form makes this easy. You can hover your cursor over the box that applies to that paragraph to add to the checkmark. Only choose "agree" if you know it is true. Similarly, only choose "disagree" if you know it is not true, and can offer a supporting statement as to why you do not agree. If you do not know, choose "I do not know." If the paragraph has over one claim, only choose "agree" if all the claims are true.

Make sure that you are comfortable with each response before you submit it. You cannot change an answer to a paragraph once it is submitted. It is also essential to choose "agree" if or when the section is true. You do not need to deny each separate paragraph to win your case. You should, however, deny every paragraph that is not true.

2. Assert your defenses

You can assert a legal defense when you need to go beyond just "disagreeing" with the Complaint. Asserting a defense (or an "affirmative defense") is how you can show the court that the creditor does not have a case against you.

SoloSuit walks you through each defense and helps you apply the right ones.

Common defenses come up in response to a summons for debt collection. With Michigan's form, they are even laid out for you, just like the choices for your Answer. The options include the 12 most likely defenses. The possibilities also reference the proper Michigan debt collection law to cite. Some defenses are:

  • Lack of standing is a powerful defense tool when you can correctly assert that the debt collector has no legal basis for filing the suit. This defense is usually appropriate when the debt has been bought and sold without a clear paper trail from the original owner of the debt.
  • Asserting that the debt has already been paid
  • The allowable time frame to collect has run out (referred to as the "statute of limitations")
  • There is a problem with the contract itself

Again, you can check the box next to any affirmative defense that applies to you. Make sure that you fill in any blanks associated with that defense. You should also attach any supporting paperwork when requested.

If there is another defense you think is applicable that is not listed, you can check the box next to option 13 for "other" and fill in the defense yourself. For example, if you believe they are suing the wrong person, you could list 'improper party' as a defense. If you believe the amount listed is incorrect, you could counter with another amount. If you believe the creditor has been improper, you can also explore How To File an FDCPA Complaint Against Your Debt Collector.

However, keep in mind that while there are quite a few affirmative defenses available, your inability to pay the debt is not one of them.

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

Once you complete your Answer, print it out to sign and make four copies. Then file the original with the court, either in person or by first-class mail.

SoloSuit files for you, so you don't have to miss work. You don't even have to leave your house. Michigan does not charge any fee to file an Answer, so you do not need to worry about costs.

The next step will be to serve your Answer on the plaintiff (who is the creditor suing you.) Their contact information will be on the original Summons. Make sure that you complete the certificate of service at the bottom of the "Answer" portion of your two remaining copies. Then, file one copy with the court (again in person or by first-class mail) and keep the remaining copy.

You should also get together all the documents that support your Answer to bring along to your court hearing.

Next, you should serve a copy of the Answer to the plaintiff through first-class mail or personal service. It is a good idea to send your Answer via certified mail return receipt requested. When there is an attorney for the plaintiff, serve the Answer to the attorney rather than the plaintiff.

Statute of limitations on debt in Michigan

Most kinds of debt are “time-barred,” meaning that after a certain period, the creditor no longer has the right to legally pursue you for the debt. This deadline is known as the statute of limitations.

The Michigan statute of limitations on debt varies by the type of debt, as you can see in the following table:

Statute of Limitations on Debt in Michigan
Debt Type Deadline
Credit Card 6 years
Medical 6 years
Student Loan 6 years
Auto Loan 6 years
Mortgage 6 years
Personal Loan 6 years
Judgment 10 years
Source: Mich. Comp. Laws § 600.5809/5813

Use the statute of limitations as a defense in your Michigan debt collection case.

As you can see, the statute of limitations on credit card debt (and most other types of debt) is six years in Michigan. However, statutes of limitations are more complex than the list above may lead you to believe. There are a few different ways the statute of limitations can be reset:

The creditor can renew a judgment

If a creditor sues you for a debt in court and wins, you will get a judgment against you, meaning the court orders you to pay — and the creditor can garnish your wages if you don’t. The list of statutes of limitations above might make it seem like if you can somehow dodge wage garnishment for a decade, you’ll be off the hook.

Unfortunately, that’s not how it works. Just like they can in most states, creditors in Michigan can renew a judgment for another decade if they file with the court before the statute of limitations passes.

The statute of limitations resets if you make a payment

The Minnesota statute of limitations on contract debt (like credit cards) is six years. However, that doesn’t mean you can qualify for a credit card, use it for six years, and then get out of paying. On account-based debts, the clock on the statute of limitations resets each time you make a payment.

You must pay if you acknowledge that the debt is yours

Lots of people don’t know about this exception. Creditors and debt collectors will often try to get you to pay for debts even once the statute of limitations has passed. If you admit a debt is yours, you will likely still have to pay it. For this reason, you should never acknowledge you owe a debt to any creditor or collector. Ask for proof instead.

Before you pay anything, make debt collectors prove you owe money and send a Debt Validation Letter first.

Additional Michigan debt collection laws safeguard consumer rights

Beyond the statute of limitations, other Michigan debt collection laws prevent unfair debt collection practices in conjunction with federal laws. Any time you’re dealing with a debt collector, it’s important to understand these laws and how they protect you. Here’s a short list of some of the most applicable debt collection laws that protect consumers in Michigan.

  • MI Comp L § 445.251 specifies that a debt collector is anyone involved in collecting or attempting to collect debts, including those using fictitious names or representing collection agencies, with certain exceptions like regular employees, banks, and licensed real estate brokers.
  • MI Comp L § 445.252 prohibits actions such as pretending to be lawyers, using misleading forms, lying about the nature of the contact, misrepresenting legal actions, harassing debtors, using violence, publicly shaming debtors, and employing unlicensed collectors.
  • MI Comp L § 445.257 allows consumers to seek damages if debt collectors violate these laws, with potential compensation of actual damages or $50, and treble damages for willful violations.

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), a federal law, also applies to debt collection practices in Michigan The FDCPA bars collectors from using deceit, abuse, coercion, harassment, illegal methods, and other unethical means to collect.

More specifically, the FDCPA covers the collection of personal, family, or household debts, but it does not relate to debts incurred through the ownership or operation of a business. Under this law, debt collectors in Michigan must not:

  • Pester, abuse or use oppression with threats of physical violence, obscene language, or repeated calls intended to annoy you.
  • Lie about being from the government, throwing you into jail or "debtors' prison. " telling you they work for a credit reporting agency, or that the documents they send you are legal when they aren't.
  • Threaten to sue you even though they don't intend to.
  • Threaten to evict you unless they have a valid legal basis.
  • Provide you with a document that appears to come from a government or court.
  • Use a false company name or represent themselves as someone they are not.
  • Try to collect interest or fees unless your contract or state law allows the imposition of interest or fees.

However, Michigan makes it easier for you to pursue damages against debt collectors. Often, in order to pursue damages, you must have suffered significant financial harm. However, under Michigan law, if a collector violates a law, it must pay either the consumer’s actual damages or $50 (whichever is greater).

Penalties are much steeper if the court believes the collector violated the law on purpose. If that’s the case, “treble damages” come into play. That means the collector must pay $150 or triple the consumer’s actual damages — whichever is greater.

Contact the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division, the Federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, or the Federal Trade Commission if you believe a debt collector is harassing you.

What happens after you answer a Summons and Complaint?

Filing an Answer to the Summons for debt collection puts the lawsuit officially in dispute.

The court will set a hearing to determine the schedule of the lawsuit and set deadlines for the rest of the proceedings. This may be referred to as a scheduling order or hearing notice that you receive in the mail. Take careful note of all the dates and deadlines.

If you have not received your notice of hearing from the court within 15 days of filing your Answer, call the court clerk to check-in. You should make sure they have it and get an update. That phone number will be on the front page of the complaint against you.

When preparing for your debt collection hearing, it is important to gather evidence to prove your argument. Bring all documents that support your checked answers. This can include any documents that support your argument or statements from other people who know firsthand what went on.

Alternatively, you can avoid going to court and settle the debt before your court date. This may take some negotiating, but most creditors and collectors are willing to work with consumers who have experienced unexpected financial hardship.


Settle debt in Michigan

Have you been sued for a debt? You already know that it’s important to file an Answer before the deadline to avoid automatically losing. But then what?

If you definitely don’t owe the debt, you may be determined to see the case through. For example, if someone stole your identity and took out several loans in your name, you might gather evidence and present it in court to prove that you are not responsible.

However, if you do owe the debt, your best bet is to try to settle debt in MIchigan by negotiating with the creditor or debt collector to whom you owe the debt. You can do this at any point until the lawsuit is finalized. Settling with a creditor might sound scary, but it probably isn’t as complex as it seems. Once you’ve sent an Answer in response to your lawsuit notice, here’s what to do next.

Plan your offer

Technically, either you or the creditor can offer to settle. But almost always, you’ll need to be the one presenting the offer if you’d like to settle. Creditors aren’t obligated to entertain settlement offers, so you’ll want to offer something that’s worth the creditor’s time.

We often say to start settlement negotiations at 60% of the debt, but you can start with something lower if you wish. The key is to make the offer something the creditor will entertain. For instance, if you owe $4,000, offering to pay $2,750 is fairly reasonable. Offering to pay $400 is not.

It’s also wise to decide on a range you’re comfortable paying. Most creditors are going to want to take their time negotiating. When you have a range, you give yourself some room.

Start negotiating

Once you know what you can pay, you can start the negotiations by sending the creditor an offer. Don’t worry if they send a counteroffer. No matter how reasonable your first offer is, most creditors are going to counteroffer. It may take some time, but be patient! Remember that the goal here is to agree on an amount so the lawsuit can be stopped.

Finalize the offer

Once you’ve come to an agreement, the hard part is done! However, before paying, you should always make sure that the agreement is in writing. The agreement should clarify how much you’ll pay, when you’ll pay it, and how you’ll pay it.

But most importantly, it should also clarify that once you pay the agreed-upon amount, the collector waives the right to come after you to pay the remaining amount of the original debt.

Negotiate with creditors and collectors to settle your debt in Michigan.

Watch the video below for more tips on how to negotiate with debt collectors to settle your debt for less and protect your rights.

What if I can't pay a debt collection lawsuit?

While there are many legal defenses you can offer in your Answer for debt collection, the inability to pay for a debt is not one of them. That said, it may be your reality. In that instance, you may want to consider filing for bankruptcy, which allows you to walk away from the debt.

Any debt collection cases or actions are immediately put on hold because of the automatic stay as soon as you file bankruptcy. If you can file for Chapter 7, there is a strong chance that you could walk away from the debt entirely. To learn more about bankruptcy, you can check out Upsolve.com. Upsolve is a nonprofit that offers free help to people filing their cases. To see if you qualify, go to their screener.

What if I haven't been sued yet?

If you've only received collections notice but not a lawsuit, the best way to respond is with a Debt Validation Letter. When a debt collector contacts you in any way, whether by phone or mail, you can respond with a Debt Validation Letter.

This letter notifies the collector that you dispute the debt and requires them to provide proof you owe the debt. They can't call you or continue collecting until they provide validation of the debt. This flowchart shows how you can use a Debt Validation Letter to win.

Make your own Debt Validation Letter in minutes with SoloSuit.

Dealing with fraudulent debt collectors

Dealing with legitimate debt collectors can be unpleasant, but Michigan consumers have been on edge because of increased calls from fake collectors. The fraudsters may call you repeatedly at home, work, or on your cell phone, refuse to give you their real name and address, and claim to work for a fake debt collection agency.

Phony debt collectors may have considerable personal information about you. This information may include your bank information, Social Security number, birth date, etc. Impersonators may even imitate law firms, court officials, police forces, or government organizations. In addition, they often tell you that if you don't pay now, someone will come and arrest you.

How can you distinguish between a legitimate but unscrupulous debt collector and a fake one?

Contact your creditor regarding the call and find out who has been allowed to collect the debt by the creditor. Likewise, legitimate debt collectors must send a written notice of the debt within five days of their initial phone call. You will know the call you received was a scam if you don't receive a notice promptly.

The Federal Trade Commission, the Attorney General, or the Federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau should be notified immediately if you are contacted by a legitimate debt collector using any or all of the above-listed scare tactics.

Get debt relief in Michigan

If you’re struggling with debt, you’re not alone! And in many cases, financial advice surrounding debt advises you to increase your income, cut your expenses, or both. These are great things to do, but often, they aren’t enough — or you’re already making as much as you can and have trimmed down your expenses as much as possible. If that’s your situation, you might be happy to hear that there are other ways to reduce your debt burden, namely the following Michigan debt relief options.

If you have a low income, are disabled, or are facing a financial emergency, some of these state-sponsored programs may help:

Not everyone will qualify for these programs. Don’t worry! There are still many options that can help you better manage your debt.

Try settling your debt

If you’re familiar with how the debt settlement process works, you might not realize that you can negotiate a settlement agreement with your creditors even if you haven’t been sued for debt. You can negotiate yourself if you want, but when you let SoloSettle help, you’ll probably find that it goes much more smoothly.

There are also private companies that claim they can work with your creditors to negotiate your debt down. Some can be legitimate, but be very careful when you consider these companies!

Unfortunately, because they know most people trying to settle debt don’t have a lot of money, some settlement companies have shady practices or are outright scams. Scam settlement companies will typically ask for a fee upfront. They then will either do nothing to reduce your debt or will only reduce it very minimally.

If you’re considering working with one of these companies, always do your homework first!

Consider consolidating your debt

When you consolidate your debt, you essentially refinance it. For example, if you get a debt consolidation loan, you use the loan funds to pay off multiple accounts. That way, instead of paying multiple small monthly payments, you can pay a single sum each month. Debt consolidation loans also have lower interest rates than credit cards and most other kinds of consumer debt.

If you own your home, you also may want to consider refinancing your debt with a home equity line of credit (HELOC) or home equity loan. These tend to have lower interest rates than debt consolidation loans, as they are secured by your home.

Declare bankruptcy as a last resort

Declaring bankruptcy is not a decision you should make lightly. If you declare Chapter 7 bankruptcy (meaning you have a low income and few assets), you should be able to have most of your debts discharged.

If you declare Chapter 13 bankruptcy (meaning you have a higher income and more assets), some debts might be discharged, but bankruptcy will essentially just “restructure” your payments.

If you want to declare bankruptcy, you will need to work with an attorney. It’s a good idea to consult with a bankruptcy attorney so you can discuss the impact bankruptcy will have on your credit and decide whether it’s the right option for you.

We asked an attorney to break down the pros and cons and differences between debt consolidation, debt settlement, and bankruptcy. Watch the video to determine which of these debt relief options would be best for you.

Check the status of your court case in Michigan

Debt lawsuits aren’t exactly fun to begin with. Unfortunately, they’re much more stressful than many people realize. The stakes are incredibly high — if you miss even a single hearing or filing date, you almost certainly will lose by default.

While you (fortunately) don’t go to jail if you lose a debt case in court, you’ll be ordered to pay the debt. That usually means you get a judgment against you.

Under normal circumstances, debt collectors can’t garnish your wages, take and sell your property, or remove money from your bank account. However, once they have a court judgment against you, they can.

Navigating the court system can be challenging, but the best way to make sure you don’t miss anything critically important is to track your case. Often, you can do that online.

In many cases, you can find information on your court case and its developments on the MiCOURT Case Search portal. To access your court records (if they are available online), here’s what you need to do:

  • Look up your county court.
  • Use Option A to search using your name and date of birth.
  • Click “Filter” and add any additional info that may narrow the search.
  • Press search and wait for your case to appear.

Not all cases can be found online, so if you don’t see yours, don’t panic! If this happens, you’ll need to visit your local courthouse and ask the clerk to help you find your case records.

Stop wage garnishment in Michigan

The idea of wage garnishment alone can be scary, but the good news is that creditors can’t just start garnishing your wages out of nowhere. Before garnishing your wages, a creditor must first contact you repeatedly about the debt. They then must sue you for it.

If you fail to respond to the notice of the lawsuit or you otherwise lose the case, the creditor may be able to get a judgment against you.

If your wages are garnished, you at least have some protection. Michigan wage garnishment limits are in line with federal limits. Each week, the maximum amount of your wages that can be garnished each week is the lesser of these two:

  • 25% of your weekly disposable income
  • Your disposable income in excess of 30 times the federal minimum wage ($7.25)

So, what can you do to stop wage garnishment? Unfortunately, once it starts, wage garnishment is incredibly hard to stop. However, there are many types of income that are exempt from garnishment, including these:

  • Social Security income
  • Veterans’ benefits
  • Disability benefits
  • General assistance benefits
  • Unemployment benefits
  • Workers’ compensation benefits
  • Many types of retirement and pension benefits

If you have any of the types of income exempt from garnishment, you must file a petition with the court within 14 days of receiving a notice that your wages will be garnished. The notice should include both this petition and instructions for filing.

Ultimately, the best way to stop your creditors from garnishing your wages is to do all you can to stop the garnishment from happening in the first place.

Michigan Legal Aid Organizations

Michigan has a lot of different legal aid services available to its residents. Please see below for links to major legal aid organizations. These resources can either help with debt collection cases or put you in touch with someone who can help based on your location:



Michigan court locations for debt collection lawsuits

Debt collection lawsuits in Michigan are held in either District or Circuit Courts.

  • District Courts handle cases up to $25,000.
  • Circuit Courts are for claims above $25,000.
  • Small claims courts take cases for less than $6,500; small claims courts are a division of the District Court.

District and circuit courts exist for every county in Michigan, and there can be many locations within a county, depending on its size.

One perk (if it can be called that) to being sued is that you do not need to determine which court is appropriate to file in. Since the creditor started the lawsuit against you, they have already designated a court. That court information, including district/circuit, address, and telephone number, will be on the first page of your complaint. You should also reference the case number in your response paperwork.

Now, if you receive a complaint against you for debt collection and the location of the court seems incorrect, double-check. You can always look up your court location for your residence in the Trial Court Directory.

You can also find all Michigan Court information, locations, and phone numbers here.

File an Answer in your local court in Michigan

Prevent wage garnishment before it happens. Draft and file an Answer in your local Michigan court; find yours below to get started.

Key takeaways

So, here's how to answer a Summons for debt collection in Michigan.

Follow these steps:

  1. Answer the complaint, paragraph by paragraph.
  2. Assert your affirmative defenses.
  3. File and serve the Answer.

Answering a Summons does not have to be a complicated or scary process. With the help of SoloSuit, you can preserve your legal rights and even win against debt collectors.

>>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.)




Deadline approaching

Don't lose by default
Respond in 15 minutes

SoloSuit files your Answer with the court. Attorney-reviewed.

364K+
People Helped
From $67
Money-back Guarantee
Respond Now
4.7 from 635 reviews


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

Debt collector guides

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

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.

Bankruptcy

Bankruptcy is a great way to legally resolve debt, but it's usually best to consider it as a last resort. Here are some bankruptcy guides to help you decide which debt resolution option is best for you.

Check your case status

Don't have time to go to your local courthouse to check the status of your case? We've created state guides on how to check the status of your case throughout the US, complete with online search tools and court directories.

Credit

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, along with other credit-related resources.

Debt collection FAQs

Find answers to some of our the most commonly-asked questions about debt collection below.

Debt collection documents and templates

If you're dealing with debt, these documents and templates will help you respond, protect your rights, negotiate, and resolve your debts.

Debt relief

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 settlement

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

Eviction

Facing an eviction? The following guides will help you navigate your situation with confidence.

Federal debt collection laws

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.

Helping people find access to justice is at the heart of Solo's misison. If you're dealing with a legal debt issue, the following guides will help you through it.

Medical debt

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

Personal finance

Learn how to manage your finances and overcome crushing debt. Check out our personal finance guides below.

State debt collection laws

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

Like all debt collection laws, the statute of limitations on debt varies by state. So, we wrote guides on each state's statutes and more.

Stop collection calls

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.

Wage garnishment

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 your state, plus other wage garnishment resources.

The Debt Hotline

Hosted by Team Solo, The Debt Hotline breaks down debt and personal finance topics with help from attorneys, financial experts, and industry pros. We respond to real questions to help you navigate debt with knowledge and courage.

Other debt resources