What is Answer?
Updated January 24, 2026
The defendant's formal written response to a complaint, admitting or denying allegations and raising any defenses.
Understanding Answer
The answer must respond to each allegation in the complaint. Defendants may also assert affirmative defenses (reasons they shouldn't be liable even if facts are true) and counterclaims (claims against the plaintiff). Failure to answer can result in default judgment.
Examples
- 1Defendant denying negligence allegations
- 2Answer asserting comparative fault defense
- 3Counterclaim for property damage
Related Terms
Complaint
The initial document filed to start a lawsuit, setting forth the plaintiff's claims, the facts supporting them, and the relief sought.
Statute of Limitations
A law that sets the maximum time after an event within which legal proceedings may be initiated. Once the statute of limitations expires, the claim is typically barred forever.
Settlement
An agreement between parties to resolve a legal dispute without going to trial. Settlements typically involve the defendant paying the plaintiff an agreed-upon sum in exchange for dropping the lawsuit.
Discovery
The pre-trial phase in a lawsuit where each party can obtain evidence from the opposing party through various methods including interrogatories, depositions, and requests for documents.
Deposition
Sworn, out-of-court testimony given by a witness or party that is recorded for later use in court proceedings. Depositions are a key part of the discovery process.
For Personal Injury cases
The record behind a term like this one is built by the client, not the file.
Quilia asks clients about treatment, appointments and how they are doing, records the answers on the case, and syncs it to Clio, Filevine, MyCase, Neos and more.
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