This summary is not the rule. The rule text controls.
If you get sued in small claims court, you have 14 days to respond after you receive the summons and complaint. This 14-day clock starts as soon as you get the papers, whether they were handed to you by a sheriff, constable, or another process server, or sent through certified mail or a commercial delivery service.
Your response, called an answer, needs to be filed with the court clerk's office. You don't need to send a copy to the person who sued you unless you are also filing a counterclaim, which means you are suing them back as part of the same case. If you do include a counterclaim, then you must send them a copy of your answer.
Missing this deadline can hurt your case, so it's smart to act quickly once you're served with papers. If you're not sure how to file an answer or what to include, the clerk's office can often point you to basic instructions or forms.
