Served with a debt collection lawsuit?
Don't face it alone.

Don't ignore it, and don't wait to see if it "goes away." Read the papers carefully to confirm what court it's in, who's suing you, and how you were served, then contact an attorney as soon as possible to confirm your exact deadline and discuss your options. Filing an Answer — not a phone call or letter to the collector — is what actually preserves your rights.

It depends on how you were served. If you were served in person, you generally have 20 days to respond; if served another way — you usually have 30 days. In New York, you must both file your Answer with the court and serve a copy on the plaintiff by your deadline.

If you don't respond, the collector can typically ask the court for a default judgment against you — a court order saying you legally owe the debt. Once that happens, the collector can garnish your wages, freeze or levy your bank account, and even place a lien on your home, often without further notice. A judgment in New York is generally valid for 20 years. Undoing a default judgment later is possible, but difficult — responding on time preserves far more options.

An Answer is your formal legal response to the lawsuit. It does more than say "I disagree." A proper Answer responds to each allegation in the complaint, raises all applicable defenses and counterclaims, and preserves your legal rights. Calling the creditor, sending a letter, or explaining your situation does not count. Filing an Answer is the single most important step you can take after being sued.