Getting served with a lawsuit is a shock. Seeing your name listed as a “Defendant” can make your stomach drop. You might feel tempted to throw the papers in a drawer and hope it all goes away.
Please don’t do that.
Ignoring the lawsuit is the only way to guarantee you lose. If you do nothing, the court will likely issue a default judgment against you. This allows debt collectors to garnish your wages or freeze your bank account without warning.
The good news? Fighting back is easier than you think. You don’t need a law degree. You just need to file a single document called an “Answer” before the clock runs out.
Create your court-approved Wyoming Answer in 15 minutes with DebtAegis
1. The Wyoming Deadline: 20 vs. 30 Days
Time is your most important asset right now. In Wyoming, the deadline to file your Answer depends strictly on where you were when you received the papers (Wyo. R. Prac. & P. 12).
- Served INSIDE Wyoming: You have 20 days to file your Answer.
- Served OUTSIDE Wyoming: You have 30 days to file your Answer.
Note: This countdown starts the day you receive the Summons. If the deadline falls on a weekend or legal holiday, you get until the next business day. But don’t cut it close. Filing early is always safer.
2. Do I Have to Pay a Fee?
Here is some relief: Wyoming courts generally do not charge a filing fee to file an Answer in a debt collection case. While the plaintiff (the debt collector) had to pay to sue you, your defense is usually free to file.
However, you will have to pay for postage. You must use a secure mailing method to ensure your documents actually get there.
3. Step-by-Step: How to Respond
Responding involves three main actions: creating the document, filing it with the court, and notifying the plaintiff.
Step 1: Create Your “Answer”
You cannot just write a letter to the judge explaining your financial hardship. You must file a formal legal document that responds to each claim in the Complaint.
For every paragraph in the lawsuit, you must usually state one of three things:
- Admit: “This is true.” (Be careful with this.)
- Deny: “This is not true.” (This forces them to prove it.)
- Lack Knowledge: “I don’t know if this is true.” (A safe standard response.)
Warning: Writing this from scratch is risky. If you miss a formatting rule, the clerk may reject it.
Step 2: File with the Court
Once your Answer is signed, you need to get it to the Clerk of Court. You have two options:
- In-Person: Go to the courthouse listed on the Summons. Hand your paperwork to the clerk and ask them to stamp your copy as proof.
- By Mail: Send it via USPS Certified Mail with Return Receipt. This green card is your golden ticket—it proves the court received your Answer before the deadline.
Step 3: Serve the Plaintiff
You are legally required to send a copy of your Answer to the debt collector (or their attorney). You must do this the same day you file with the court. Check the “Certificate of Service” section on your document to see exactly where to sign.
4. The Statute of Limitations (The 10-Year Rule)
Wyoming has a long memory when it comes to debt. Under Wyo. Stat. § 1-3-105, the statute of limitations for most debts—including credit cards and medical bills—is 10 years.
This means if you haven’t made a payment or acknowledged the debt in over 10 years, the collector cannot legally force you to pay. This is a powerful “Affirmative Defense.”
The “Borrowing” Rule: Did you take out the debt in another state? Wyoming is a “borrowing” state. If the statute of limitations is shorter in the state where the debt originated (e.g., 3 years in Alabama), Wyoming courts may apply that shorter deadline instead of the 10-year rule.
5. Ready to Defend Yourself?
You don’t need to hire an expensive attorney to save your finances. You just need the right paperwork.
DebtAegis turns a complex legal headache into a simple checklist. We help you generate a customized, legally compliant Answer, and we provide you with a specific set of instructions on how to mail it properly.