If a creditor or debt collector has filed a lawsuit against you, you will need to respond. Responding to a lawsuit involves writing a response and filing it in the applicable court. You can do this on your own, but you don’t have to. At Daic Law, filing an Answer or Response on your behalf is part of our debt defense services.
Yes, you can file an Answer on your own. However, if you aren’t familiar with the court system and legal process, then simply filing an Answer may not be sufficient, or the best option for resolving the claim.
Why Work With a Debt Defense Lawyer
While many consumers file an Answer or Response on their own, there are many reasons why it is beneficial to have a debt defense lawyer assist you in drafting and filing your response. Some of the benefits you get by working with a lawyer include:
- You know that any documents filed with the court are accurate.
- You know that any document deadlines will be met.
- Before filing an Answer, you will know what your possible defenses are.
- A lawyer will help ensure that the plaintiff and opposing counsel communicate through their office, not with you directly.
- Working with a lawyer can help you avoid a default judgment being filed against you.
- If there is already a default judgment in progress, working with a lawyer can help you avoid potentially negative consequences.
- A lawyer will negotiate with your creditor(s) in an effort to obtain a settlement or payment plan that is affordable and reasonable.
- If you believe that the debt is not yours, or that you are a victim of identity theft, a lawyer can help you investigate these concerns.
It’s important to know that even if you already filed an Answer yourself, you can still have a lawyer represent you in court. Part of our debt defense services is filing an Amended Answer for clients who previously filed an answer on their own (pro se).
What Happens if You Don’t Respond to a Debt Lawsuit?
As tempting as it may be to simply ignore a debt collection lawsuit, that’s never the right, or best, thing to do. If you don’t respond to a debt lawsuit, you risk the plaintiff obtaining a default judgment against you. That means the court will rule in favor of the plaintiff without ever hearing your side of the story.
If that happens, a default judgment can result in garnishing your bank account, a lien being placed on your property, or accruing additional fees and costs. A judgment may also impact your credit report. Defaulted debts appear on your credit as a derogatory mark, which can impact your credit score and your ability to get credit in the future. These debts can stay on your credit report for seven years.
A default judgment itself can last for 10 years, and the plaintiff and court can renew it. That means your credit and overall financial standing could be impacted for more than 10 years if you don’t respond to a lawsuit.
Learn More about Our Debt Defense Services
As you can see, it is incredibly important to respond to a debt lawsuit as soon as possible. If you are in doubt, or believe that you do not owe the debt in the lawsuit, contact Daic Law to learn more about our debt defense services.
At Daic Law, we help clients across Texas with debt-related matters including:
- Credit Card Debt
- Note Loans
- Repossession Deficiency
- Insurance Subrogation
- Student Loan Debt
- Medical Debt
We understand how scary it can be to have someone take legal action against you. And we want you to know that you don’t have to face this situation alone.
If you are facing a lawsuit for any type of debt, contact us today to learn more about your options. For a free consultation, call us at 877-893-6040, or email us at info@daiclaw.com.
