Art. 1002 Answer or other pleading filed prior to signing of default judgment

If you're being sued in Louisiana, the other side can ask the court for a "default judgment" against you if you don't respond in time. This rule gives you a way to avoid that outcome. As long as the judge hasn't actually signed the default judgment yet, you can still file your answer or other response to the lawsuit.

In other words, missing the normal deadline doesn't automatically shut the door on you. You get a second chance to respond, right up until the moment the judge signs off on the default judgment. Once that happens, though, it's too late to file your answer under this rule.

This matters because default judgments can have serious consequences, like losing the case automatically without ever presenting your side. Knowing you have this window gives you a chance to get your response filed and protect your rights, even if you're running behind on the original deadline.