How long do you have to respond?
Every state sets its own clock — from 20 days to 35, some from service, one from a return day. Pick your state for the deadline, the rule citation, and the official source.
Deadline calculator →Alabama
Ala. R. Civ. P. 12(a)
Alaska
Alaska R. Civ. P. 12(a)
Arizona
Ariz. R. Civ. P. 12(a)
Arkansas
Ark. R. Civ. P. 12(a)
California
Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 412.20
Colorado
Colo. R. Civ. P. 12(a)
Connecticut
Conn. Practice Book § 10-8
Delaware
Del. Super. Ct. Civ. R. 12(a)
District of Columbia
D.C. Super. Ct. Civ. R. 12(a)
Florida
Fla. R. Civ. P. 1.140(a)
Georgia
O.C.G.A. § 9-11-12(a)
Hawaii
Haw. R. Civ. P. 12(a)
Idaho
Idaho R. Civ. P. 12(a)(1)(A)
Illinois
Ill. Sup. Ct. R. 181(a)
Indiana
Ind. Trial R. 6(C)
Iowa
Iowa R. Civ. P. 1.303(1)
Kansas
Kan. Stat. Ann. § 60-212(a)
Kentucky
Ky. R. Civ. P. (CR) 12.01
Louisiana
La. Code Civ. Proc. art. 1001
Maine
Me. R. Civ. P. 12(a)
Maryland
Md. R. 2-321(a)
Massachusetts
Mass. R. Civ. P. 12(a)
Michigan
Mich. Ct. R. 2.108(A)
Minnesota
Minn. R. Civ. P. 12.01
Mississippi
Miss. R. Civ. P. 12(a)
Missouri
Mo. Sup. Ct. R. 55.25
Montana
Mont. R. Civ. P. 12(a)
Nebraska
Neb. Ct. R. Pldg. § 6-1112(a)(1)(A)
Nevada
Nev. R. Civ. P. 12(a)(1)(A)
New Hampshire
N.H. Super. Ct. Civ. R. 9(a)
New Jersey
N.J. Ct. R. 4:6-1(a)
New Mexico
N.M. R. Civ. P. Dist. Ct. 1-012
New York
N.Y. CPLR 3012 / CPLR 320
North Carolina
N.C. R. Civ. P. 12(a)(1) (G.S. 1A-1)
North Dakota
N.D. R. Civ. P. 12(a)(1)(A)
Ohio
Ohio Civ. R. 12(A)(1)
Oklahoma
12 O.S. § 2012(A)
Oregon
Or. R. Civ. P. (ORCP) 7 C(2)
Pennsylvania
Pa. R. Civ. P. 1026
Rhode Island
R.I. Super. R. Civ. P. 12(a)
South Carolina
S.C. R. Civ. P. 12(a)
South Dakota
S.D. Codified Laws § 15-6-4(a) / 15-6-12
Tennessee
Tenn. R. Civ. P. 12.01
Texas
Tex. R. Civ. P. 99
Utah
Utah R. Civ. P. 12(a)(1)
Vermont
Vt. R. Civ. P. 12(a)
Virginia
Va. Sup. Ct. R. 3:8
Washington
Wash. Super. Ct. Civ. R. 12(a)(1)
West Virginia
W. Va. R. Civ. P. 12(a) (as amended eff. Jan. 1, 2025)
Wisconsin
Wis. Stat. § 802.06(1)
Wyoming
Wyo. R. Civ. P. 12(a)(1)(A)
General legal information, not legal advice; no attorney-client relationship. Deadlines shown are each state's general civil rule, verified against the cited source — courts within a state differ, service methods change the window, and your summons controls.