Sued for a Debt? How Many Days You Have to Respond in PA, NJ, MD, CA, TX, FL, AZ and TN

September 27, 2026
Posted by AmyGinsburg

Most people who lose a debt collection lawsuit don’t lose because the collector proved its case. They lose because they never responded. When a defendant misses the deadline, the court can enter a default judgment, often for the full amount claimed plus interest, costs and sometimes attorney’s fees. That judgment can lead to wage garnishment, a frozen bank account or a lien.

The good news is that the deadline is written into your court’s rules, and it’s usually printed on the summons. The bad news is that it’s different in every state, and sometimes in every court within a state. Here’s a plain-English overview for the states where Ginsburg Law Group practices.

First: find three things on your papers

The court. Is it a small claims, justice, magisterial district, special civil or general sessions court, or a higher trial court? Deadlines often depend on the court.
The date you were served. The clock usually starts on the day the papers were delivered to you, not the date printed on the complaint.
Any hearing date. Some courts don’t require a written answer. They require you to show up on a specific date instead.

Typical response deadlines by state

The deadlines below are the general rules for a defendant served in the state. Always read your own summons, because special rules can apply, such as out-of-state service, service by publication or a court-specific procedure.

Pennsylvania: In the Court of Common Pleas, a defendant generally has 20 days after service of the complaint to respond (Pa.R.C.P. 1026). In Magisterial District Court, you usually don’t file a written answer. The complaint lists a hearing date, and you need to appear.
New Jersey: In the Special Civil Part and the Law Division, the summons generally gives you 35 days from service to file a written answer.
Maryland: In District Court, you must file a Notice of Intention to Defend within 15 days after service, or 60 days if you were served outside Maryland (Md. Rule 3-307). In Circuit Court, the general answer deadline is 30 days (Md. Rule 2-321).
California: You generally have 30 calendar days after service to file a response (Code Civ. Proc. § 412.20). That’s true in limited civil cases, which is where most consumer debt suits are filed.
Texas: In Justice Court, where many credit card suits are filed, your answer is due by the end of the 14th day after you were served (Tex. R. Civ. P. 502.5). In County and District Court, it’s due by 10:00 a.m. on the Monday after 20 days have passed since service (Tex. R. Civ. P. 99).
Florida: In county and circuit civil cases, the general deadline is 20 days after service (Fla. R. Civ. P. 1.140). Small claims cases usually work differently. The summons or notice to appear sets a pretrial conference date that you must attend.
Arizona: You generally have 20 days after service to answer, or 30 days if you were served outside Arizona (Ariz. R. Civ. P. 12). Justice courts follow a similar 20-day rule.
Tennessee: In General Sessions Court, the civil warrant sets a court date, and you usually aren’t required to file a written answer. You must appear. If the creditor filed a sworn account, you may need to file a sworn denial to contest the amount.

How to count the days

Most court deadlines are counted in calendar days, including weekends. If the last day falls on a weekend or court holiday, many rules move the deadline to the next business day. Don’t rely on that without checking your court’s rule. The safest approach is to treat the earliest possible date as your deadline and file before it.

If you’re not sure when you were served, for example because papers were left with a family member or taped to your door, assume the clock started on the earliest date and get advice quickly.

What if you already missed the deadline?

Missing a deadline isn’t always the end of the road. Depending on the state and how much time has passed, you may be able to:

File a late answer before the creditor asks for a default, which courts often accept.
Ask the court to set aside, vacate or reopen a default judgment, especially if you were never properly served or had a good reason for missing the deadline.
Challenge a judgment obtained with defective service or an affidavit that misstated the facts.

These motions have their own deadlines, and some are short. The sooner you act, the more options you usually have.

Why responding matters even if you owe something

Filing an answer doesn’t mean you’re claiming you owe nothing. It preserves your right to make the creditor prove its case. In debt buyer lawsuits, that often means proving it actually owns the account, that the amount is correct and that the suit was filed within the statute of limitations. A timely response also gives you leverage to negotiate a settlement or payment plan on better terms than a default judgment would allow.

If you are an active-duty servicemember, the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act provides additional protections against default judgments.

Key takeaways

Find the court, service date and any hearing date on your papers right away.
Deadlines range from about 14 to 35 days depending on the state and court, and some courts require an appearance instead of a written answer.
A missed deadline can lead to a default judgment, garnishment and bank levies.
Even after a default, there may be ways to reopen the case, but time matters.

Ginsburg Law Group defends consumers sued by credit card companies, debt buyers and collection law firms. If you’ve been served, contact us as soon as possible so we can review your papers before the deadline passes.

This article is for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Court rules change and can vary by county and court. Always follow the deadline stated on your summons and consult a licensed attorney in your state about your situation.