Getting sued is terrifying. It’s a specific kind of knot in your stomach—especially when it’s about money you don’t have.
If you’ve received a Summons and Petition in Oklahoma, you might feel paralyzed. You might want to throw the papers in a drawer and hope it goes away. Don’t do that. Ignoring a lawsuit is the only way to guarantee you lose. The court calls this a “Default Judgment,” which allows debt collectors to garnish your wages or freeze your bank account without asking permission again.
You have power here. You just need to respond.
[Create Your Oklahoma Answer in 15 Minutes]
1. The 20-Day Rule
Oklahoma law is strict. You have exactly 20 days to file a written response from the day you were handed the papers. This includes weekends.
Do not wait for the court to save you. Do not wait for the collector to “work it out” over the phone. If you miss this 20-day window, the plaintiff (the debt collector) can walk into court and win automatically.
2. There Is No “Easy Form” (But We Fix That)
Unlike some states that provide simple fill-in-the-blank forms at the courthouse, Oklahoma generally requires you to draft your own legal document. It’s called an Answer.
This is where most people give up. Legal jargon is designed to be confusing. But at its core, an Answer is just your side of the story. You don’t need a law degree to tell the truth; you just need the right format.
DebtAegis translates your simple answers into the specific format Oklahoma courts require. We handle the formatting so you can focus on the facts.
3. How to Write Your Answer
Your Answer tells the court what you agree with and what you dispute. Here is the 3-step process:
Step 1: “Admit” or “Deny”
Read the Petition filed against you. It will list numbered paragraphs making claims (e.g., “Defendant owes $5,000”). For each paragraph, you must choose one of three responses:
- Admit: “Yes, this is true.” (Use this for basic facts like your name).
- Deny: “No, this is false.” (Use this if the amount is wrong or it’s not your debt).
- Lack Knowledge: “I don’t know.” (Use this if you aren’t sure, like when they claim to be the legal owner of your old debt).
Tip: You don’t have to deny everything to win. You just need to be honest. But forcing them to prove their claims is your right.
Step 2: Assert Your Defenses
This is your shield. An “Affirmative Defense” is a legal reason why you shouldn’t have to pay, even if the debt was originally yours. Common defenses in Oklahoma include:
- Statute of Limitations: Is the debt too old? In Oklahoma, they generally cannot sue you after 5 years for written contracts (like credit cards) or 3 years for oral agreements.
- Payment: You already paid this debt.
- Identity Theft: The debt belongs to someone else.
- Bankruptcy: This debt was discharged in a previous bankruptcy case.
Step 3: File and Serve
Once your Answer is written, you must:
- Print two copies.
- Mail the original to the Court Clerk listed on your Summons.
- Mail the second copy to the plaintiff’s attorney.
4. The Good News: Filing Fees
Here is a rare bit of relief: Oklahoma typically charges no filing fee to file a standard Answer in debt collection cases. While you should always check with your specific court clerk, you usually won’t have to pay to defend yourself.
Ready to Fight Back?
You don’t need to hire an expensive attorney to protect your paycheck. You just need to be procedural. DebtAegis helps you generate a court-ready Answer that looks professional and follows the rules.
Stop the default judgment. Keep your wages safe.