If you are being sued for outstanding debt by a creditor in Texas, retaining legal counsel at once is imperative. Texas does not use a single answer deadline. It depends on the court. Most consumer debt claims of $20,000 or less are heard in justice court, where the answer is due by the end of the 14th day after you were served, under Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 502.5(d). In a district court or a county court at law, the answer is due at 10:00 a.m. on the Monday after 20 days have passed from service, under Rule 99(b). If you miss the deadline that applies to your case, a default judgment may be entered against you. You could lose assets and personal property. In or near Irving, if a creditor sues you or if you are about to be sued, get the legal help you need – immediately. Speak with experienced Irving debt relief attorney Richard Weaver.
IF YOU CHOOSE BANKRUPTCY
Filing for bankruptcy is the surest and swiftest way to end a creditor lawsuit against you. When you file for bankruptcy under Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 of the Bankruptcy Code, all creditor lawsuits – along with all other forms of creditor harassment – must stop at once. You may have other options and want to consider the alternatives to bankruptcy. After discussing the case with Irving bankruptcy attorney Richard Weaver, he can recommend the best way to answer a creditor lawsuit.
SOUND LEGAL ADVICE IS HERE
Instead of bankruptcy, in some cases your attorney may recommend going to court and challenging a creditor lawsuit. You may have genuine legal defenses, and creditor lawsuits have been dismissed for a number of reasons. No single strategy will work for everyone. How you respond to a creditor lawsuit will depend on the unique details and circumstances of your own case. If you declare bankruptcy, the filing itself stops the lawsuit. Under 11 U.S.C. 362(a), a bankruptcy petition operates as an automatic stay the moment it is filed. There is no approval step and no waiting period.
If you are sued by a creditor in Irving or elsewhere in Texas, get bankruptcy help immediately. Call Richard Weaver at (214) 612-0003 to schedule a meeting with an experienced Irving debt relief attorney. Remember that your answer deadline depends on which court your case is in, and in justice court it can be as short as 14 days. Check the citation you were served with, then make the call.