Served a summons? Your deadline to respond before a default judgment depends on your state and the court. Find your state below — general-court and small-claims/debt-court deadlines. Always follow the date on your actual summons. General information, not legal advice.
| State | General court | Small-claims / debt court |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 30 days | Same (district & circuit) |
| Alaska | 20 days | Same (small-claims SC-3 answer also 20) |
| Arizona | 20 days (in-state) / 30 (out-of-state) | 20 days (Justice Court — most debt suits) |
| Arkansas | 20 days (in-state) / 30 (out-of-state) | Same |
| California | 30 days | 30 days (limited civil) |
| Colorado | 21 days (35 if served out-of-state or by publication) | County Court (most debt): due by the appearance date printed on the summons |
| Connecticut | File an Appearance by the 2nd day after the Return Date; Answer within 30 days after the Return Date | Small Claims uses a date printed on the paperwork |
| Delaware | 20 days (Superior Court) | 15 days (Justice of the Peace Court — most consumer debt) |
| Florida | 20 days | Small Claims: no written answer — APPEAR at the pretrial conference set in the summons |
| Georgia | 30 days | 30 days (Magistrate Court; the answer may be oral) |
| Hawaii | 20 days (Circuit Court) | District Court (typical debt): return day = the second Monday after service |
| Idaho | 21 days | Same |
| Illinois | Return/appearance date on the summons (appearance set 40–61 days after issuance), not a flat count | Small claims: appear on the return date, no written answer unless ordered |
| Indiana | 20 days | Small claims: no written answer — appear on the trial/return date |
| Iowa | 20 days | 20 days (small claims — same) |
| Kansas | 21 days | Chapter 61 limited-action debt suits direct you to appear/answer per the summons |
| Kentucky | 20 days | Small Claims (≤$2,500): no written answer — appear at the trial date |
| Louisiana | 21 days (amended from 15, eff. 2022; 30 if discovery is served with the petition) | City/parish and JP courts vary — verify locally |
| Maine | 20 days | Same (Small Claims is a separate hearing process) |
| Maryland | 30 days (Circuit, in-state; 60 out-of-state; 90 outside U.S.) | District Court (debt): file a Notice of Intention to Defend — 15 days in-state / 60 out-of-state |
| Massachusetts | 20 days | Small Claims: no written answer — appear at the hearing |
| Michigan | 21 days (personal in-state) / 28 (mail or out-of-state) | Same (District Court) |
| Minnesota | 21 days | Conciliation Court (small claims): no written answer — appear at the hearing |
| Mississippi | 30 days (Circuit/Chancery/County) | Justice Court (debt ≤$3,500): appear/answer on the return date on the summons |
| Missouri | 30 days (Circuit Court) | Associate Circuit & Small Claims key off the return date on the summons |
| Montana | 21 days | Same (District Courts are the general civil courts) |
| Nebraska | 30 days | 30 days (county court — unified Jan 1, 2025) |
| Nevada | 21 days | 21 days (Justice Court — harmonized by the 2024 rules overhaul) |
| New Hampshire | 30 days — file BOTH an Appearance and an Answer | Same (Circuit Court District Division civil/debt) |
| New Jersey | 35 days (Law Division) | 35 days (Special Civil Part, claims ≤$20,000) |
| New Mexico | 30 days (District Court) | 20 days (Metropolitan/Magistrate Court — where most debt suits land) |
| New York | 20 days (personal in-hand, in-state) / 30 (any other method or out-of-state) | City Courts outside NYC: 10 days (in-hand, in-county) / 30 (other) |
| North Carolina | 30 days | Small Claims (Magistrate): no written answer — APPEAR at the trial date on the summons |
| North Dakota | 21 days | Small Claims: no written-answer pleading — respond per the notice or remove to district court |
| Ohio | 28 days | 28 days (municipal civil); Small Claims appears at the hearing |
| Oklahoma | 20 days | Same; small claims sets a court-ordered appearance date |
| Oregon | 30 days | 30 days (small claims 'Defendant's Response' form) |
| Pennsylvania | 20 days (Court of Common Pleas — 'Notice to Defend') | Magisterial District Court (most debt): no written answer — appear on the hearing date (12–60 days out) |
| Rhode Island | 20 days | 20 days (District Court, civil ≤$10,000) |
| South Carolina | 30 days | 30 days (Magistrate's Court — NOT shorter) |
| South Dakota | 30 days | Small claims is hearing-driven (appear by a set hearing date) |
| Tennessee | 30 days (Circuit/Chancery) | General Sessions (most debt): appear or file a Sworn Denial by the return date on the civil warrant |
| Texas | Due by 10 a.m. on the first Monday after 20 days from service (district/county) | 14 days (Justice Court — most consumer-debt suits) |
| Utah | 21 days (in-state) / 30 (out-of-state) | Small Claims: no written answer; ODR-eligible cases register in Online Dispute Resolution within 14 days |
| Vermont | 21 days | 30 days (Small Claims — note: MORE time, not less) |
| Virginia | 21 days (Circuit Court) | General District Court (most debt): no paper-answer deadline — appear on the return date (≤90 days from service) |
| Washington | 20 days (personal in-state) / 60 (out-of-state or publication); +3 if served by mail | Same (District Court — 20 in-state) |
| West Virginia | 30 days (Circuit Court — changed from 20, eff. Jan 1, 2025) | Magistrate Court (debt ≤$10,000): typically 20 days |
| Wisconsin | 20 days (Circuit Court large claims; 45 if State/insurer or a tort cause) | Small Claims (≤$10,000, most debt): answer/appear by the return date (8–30 days out) |
| Wyoming | 20 days (in-state) / 30 (out-of-state) (District Court) | Circuit Court (debt ≤$50,000): 35 days from the complaint's FILING date under Rule 3.1(a)(2) |
| Washington DC | 21 days (Superior Court; 60 if the defendant is the U.S./DC) | Small Claims (≤$10,000, most consumer debt): no written answer — appear at the initial hearing |