Is there a legal form to answer a civil lawsuit?

Answer 1

Our local District Court Clerk told us yesterday to:

1) Type a heading almost exactly like the complaint (not the summons) you received, including case number, names, etc.

2) Answer, even with a simple yes or no, each numbered statement on the summons.

3) Make three copies, one for yourself, one for the court, and one for the Plaintiff.

4) Obtain a copy of "Certificate of Service," make three copies (as above), and fill out as if you were delivering or mailing the answer.

5) Deliver or mail the answer to the original Plaintiff, with delivery of service form filled out, probably a law firm in your area.

6) File the answer with the court, and ask if they give a receipt.

7) Since the filing fee has already been paid, this should cost you nothing.

Please let me know how this worked out for you, and I will do the same.

Answer 2

There are several different civil answer forms available for download in California. The exact form you need depends on the type of lawsuit, and may also depend on the court.

The first related link below is a list of Judicial Branch forms by name; search for "answer" and you'll find several different forms.

But individual county Superior Courts often have their own local forms, and I don't know what county you're in. The second related link below is a list of all the available California court forms, organized by county. Scroll down to your county, see if the court has forms available, and click the link to see what forms are available. You can also check the Self-Help Forms and Interactive Online Forms links in the statewide category at the top of the page. CourtReference has a page like this for every state.