How to answer a debt lawsuit in North Dakota

Deadlines by court, filing, fees and defenses, with a calculator.

Checked against official sources: Oct 24, 2026.

Short answer

District Court civil case: 21 days. Write an answer that admits or denies each claim and lists your defenses, serve (deliver) a copy on the plaintiff or its lawyer within 21 days, and keep proof of service.

Time to answer
21 days
Official answer form
Answer form for a Debt Collection Summons and Complaint (ND Legal Self Help Center)
Fee to answer
$100 to file an answer in District Court.

How long you have to answer in North Dakota

  • District Court civil case: 21 days.

21 days after you are served with the summons and complaint. Unless the summons gives a hearing date, 'appear' means you must serve a written answer on the plaintiff within 21 calendar days.

Law: N.D.R.Civ.P. 12(a)(1)(A); N.D. Cent. Code § 27-05.2-03(1)(c)

In nearby states

Your last day to answer

The date is counted in your browser.

The court's name is at the top of your summons.

An estimate from our state data, not legal advice. Court holidays and local rules can change a deadline. File early, and ask the court clerk if you are not sure.

What can defeat the claim in North Dakota

The ND courts list common defenses in debt cases: the amount is wrong; the debt was paid or settled; the debt is in a pending bankruptcy or was discharged; another court already decided it; the statute of limitations has passed; and the plaintiff isn't the original owner and can't prove it owns the debt. Being unable to pay is not by itself a defense.

Law: 6 years for contracts, N.D. Cent. Code § 28-01-16(1)

North Dakota allows 6 years to sue on a written contract. If the debt is older, say so in your answer: the court usually won't raise it for you.

Fill in North Dakota's official answer form: a helper

Start with the official form: Answer form for a Debt Collection Summons and Complaint (ND Legal Self Help Center)

This helper is not a court form and does not file anything. It lists what to copy onto the official form, in plain words.

Which of these are true? (optional)
What to put on the official form

Filing an answer in North Dakota

Write an answer that admits or denies each claim and lists your defenses, serve (deliver) a copy on the plaintiff or its lawyer within 21 days, and keep proof of service. You can serve the answer without a case number. When the case is filed, file your answer and proof of service with the clerk.

When service counts in North Dakota

Service means officially getting the court papers. Your deadline usually starts that day.

The plaintiff starts the case by serving the summons and a copy of the complaint on you under Rule 4, usually by personal delivery. The plaintiff can't file the case until it has proof that you were served.

Law: N.D.R.Civ.P. 3, 4

Fees and fee waivers in North Dakota

Fee to answer

$100 to file an answer in District Court.

Law: N.D. Cent. Code § 27-05.2-03(1)(c)

If you can't pay the fees

Filing fee waiver request forms from the ND Legal Self Help Center: https://www.ndcourts.gov/legal-self-help/fee-waiver

What to do now in North Dakota

  1. Look at the summons

    Write down the court, the case number and who is suing you.

  2. Mark your deadline

    In North Dakota: District Court civil case: 21 days.

  4. Request the debt documents

    Send a documents request letter to the plaintiff's lawyer.

Federal rules in every state

  • Where a collector must sue. A debt collector that sues you over a consumer debt must file where you signed the contract or where you live when the suit starts. Law: 15 U.S.C. 1692i(a)(2)
  • Old debts. A debt collector must not sue you, or threaten to sue you, on a debt that is too old to sue on. Law: 12 CFR 1006.26(b)

Free help in North Dakota

Questions about answering in North Dakota

How many days do I get to answer in North Dakota?

21 days after you are served with the summons and complaint. Unless the summons gives a hearing date, 'appear' means you must serve a written answer on the plaintiff within 21 calendar days.

What do I file to answer in North Dakota?

Write an answer that admits or denies each claim and lists your defenses, serve (deliver) a copy on the plaintiff or its lawyer within 21 days, and keep proof of service. You can serve the answer without a case number. When the case is filed, file your answer and proof of service with the clerk.

Is there an official answer form in North Dakota?

Answer form for a Debt Collection Summons and Complaint (ND Legal Self Help Center): https://www.ndcourts.gov/Media/Default/legal-resources/legal-self-help/civil-action/Answer%20Debt%20Collection.pdf

Is there a fee to answer in North Dakota?

$100 to file an answer in District Court.

What if I can't afford the court fees in North Dakota?

Filing fee waiver request forms from the ND Legal Self Help Center: https://www.ndcourts.gov/legal-self-help/fee-waiver

Keep reading about North Dakota

Sources

Sources

Last checked: Oct 24, 2026.

Federal sources
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