{"id":42,"date":"2026-08-10T23:52:25","date_gmt":"2026-08-10T23:52:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/californiaevictionhelp.expert\/?page_id=42"},"modified":"2026-08-11T00:21:19","modified_gmt":"2026-08-11T00:21:19","slug":"i-need-to-respond","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/californiaevictionhelp.expert\/?page_id=42","title":{"rendered":"Answer"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Received Court Papers? You May Need to File an Answer.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you have been served with a <strong>Summons and Complaint\u2014Unlawful Detainer<\/strong>, your landlord has started an eviction case in court.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is different from receiving an eviction notice. You are now involved in a court case, and you may need to file a written response with the court.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The most common response is called an <strong>Answer\u2014Unlawful Detainer (UD-105).<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">First: Find Your Deadline<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you were personally served with the Summons and Complaint, California Courts states that you generally have <strong>10 court days<\/strong> to file your Answer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The deadline can be different when the court papers were served another way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Before preparing your response, determine:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>When you received the Summons and Complaint<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>How the papers were served<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Which court is handling the case<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Your deadline to respond<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Do not wait until the last day to begin preparing your response.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Is an Answer?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">An Answer is the document you file with the court to respond to the landlord&#8217;s Complaint.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Answer allows you to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Respond to statements made in the Complaint<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Tell the court which statements you disagree with or are unsure about<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Identify facts and circumstances you want the court to consider<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Raise defenses that may apply to your situation<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ask the court for certain relief available to you<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">California Courts uses <strong>form UD-105, Answer\u2014Unlawful Detainer (Eviction)<\/strong> for this purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Read the Complaint Carefully<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Before filling out the Answer, read the landlord&#8217;s Complaint from beginning to end.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pay attention to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Your name and the names of other defendants<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The address of the rental property<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The reason the landlord says you should be evicted<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The notice the landlord says was given to you<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The dates stated in the Complaint<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The amount of rent or other money claimed<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Any other facts or statements you believe are incorrect or incomplete<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you disagree with something in the Complaint, don&#8217;t simply ignore it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Your Answer is your opportunity to respond to the allegations made against you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What About Defenses?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A defense is a legal reason why the landlord may not be entitled to evict you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Possible issues can include problems with the eviction notice, failure to maintain the rental property, retaliation, discrimination, or protections under state or local eviction laws.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Not every issue applies to every case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">California Courts provides information about common eviction defenses and explains that tenants should determine which defenses may apply to their circumstances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Information Should You Gather?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Before completing your Answer, organize the information related to your case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Gather:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Your lease or rental agreement<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The eviction notice you received<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The Summons and Complaint<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Rent receipts or payment records<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Emails and text messages with your landlord<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Photographs or videos of important conditions<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Repair requests and responses<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Notices or letters from your landlord<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Court documents<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Any other records related to the issues described in the Complaint<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Keep the original documents in a safe place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Filing Your Answer<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After completing your Answer, it must be filed with the court handling your eviction case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There may be a filing fee. If you cannot afford the filing fee, California Courts provides information about requesting a fee waiver.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some courts may also have local forms or procedures, so check the court handling your case before filing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Filing Is Not the Last Step<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After you file your Answer, you generally must have a copy properly served on the landlord or the landlord&#8217;s attorney.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Keep copies of everything you file and everything you receive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">California Courts recommends keeping copies of the filed Answer and Proof of Service for your records.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">We Can Help You Prepare<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">CaliforniaEvictionHelp.expert is designed to provide California-focused information and practical assistance with the eviction process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We can help you understand:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>What the court papers mean<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>What information belongs in your response<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>How to organize the facts of your case<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>What questions you should consider before completing your Answer<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>How to prepare your response for filing<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>The goal is to help you understand the process and prepare your response accurately and completely.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Start Your Response<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you have received a Summons and Complaint, don&#8217;t put it aside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Start by identifying your deadline, reading the Complaint carefully, and gathering the documents related to your case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Get Started<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Received Court Papers? You May Need to File an Answer. If you have been served with a Summons and Complaint\u2014Unlawful Detainer, your landlord has started an eviction case in court. This is different from receiving an eviction notice. You are now involved in a court case, and you may need to file a written response [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-42","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/californiaevictionhelp.expert\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/42","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/californiaevictionhelp.expert\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/californiaevictionhelp.expert\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/californiaevictionhelp.expert\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/californiaevictionhelp.expert\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=42"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/californiaevictionhelp.expert\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/42\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":55,"href":"https:\/\/californiaevictionhelp.expert\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/42\/revisions\/55"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/californiaevictionhelp.expert\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=42"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}