HashemIsHere.org - File Your Own Answer to Debt Collection Lawsuits

Let's Get Your Answer Ready

Follow the steps below. Takes about 5-10 minutes.

1 Upload

2 Verify

3 Choose Path

4 Questions

5 Download

Step 1: Upload Your Summons

Upload the court papers you received. Our AI will read them and pull out all the important details for you.

What is "Pro Se"?

Pro Se (pronounced "pro say") means representing yourself in court without a lawyer. In New York, you have the legal right to file your own answer to a lawsuit — you don't need to hire an attorney. This tool helps you create a proper legal document that you can file yourself, saving you hundreds or thousands in legal fees.

Drop your summons here

or click to browse

PDF recommended for best results

Don't have a PDF of your summons?

You can download it from the NY Courts website. Go to NYSCEF (NY State Courts E-Filing), scroll down and click "Search as Guest", then enter your name to find your case and download the documents.

Step 2: Check This Information

We pulled this from your summons. Please verify it's correct.

Your Case at a Glance

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Case Details

Court Name

Index/Case Number

Who is Suing You (Plaintiff)

Your Name (Defendant)

Amount They're Claiming

When Were You Served?

Date You Were Served

How Were You Served?

Your deadline to respond: Select your service date and method above

Your Contact Information

This will appear on your legal document

Street Address

City

State & ZIP

Phone

Email (optional)

Plaintiff's Attorney Address

Court Address

Step 3: What Do You Want to Do?

Pick the option that fits your situation best.

I Want to Fight This

Create a legal "Answer" that denies what they're claiming and raises defenses. This is the most common choice.

Denies their claims
Raises legal defenses
Buys you time
May get case dismissed

They Harassed Me

If they called too much, threatened you, or did other illegal things, you can sue THEM back. This is called a "counterclaim."

Sue them for harassment
Up to $1,000 + damages
May get your debt reduced
Sends a strong message

I Want to Settle

If you'd rather work out a deal, we'll help you write a professional settlement offer letter.

Offer to pay less
Set up payment plan
End the lawsuit
Get it in writing

A Few Quick Questions

Your answers help us create the best defenses for your situation.

Do you believe you actually owe this debt?

Yes, I owe it No, I don't owe this I'm not sure

When was the last time you made a payment on this debt?

Do you recognize the company that's suing you?

Yes, I've dealt with them before No, never heard of them

Did you ever file bankruptcy that included this debt?

Yes No

Tell Us What They Did Wrong

The more details you give, the stronger your counterclaim will be.

How often did they call you?

In NY, they can't call more than 7 times in 7 days about the same debt.

Did they call at bad times?

They're not allowed to call before 8am or after 9pm.

What did they do that felt wrong or illegal?

When did this harassment happen?

Let's Work Out a Deal

We'll help you write a professional settlement offer.

Why can't you pay the full amount?

How would you like to pay?

One lump sum payment Monthly payment plan

How much can you offer as a lump sum?

How much can you pay per month?

Anything else they should know? (Optional)

Your Document is Ready!

Review it below, then download and follow the instructions to file it.

The PDF will be saved to your device

What to Do Next

Print 3 copies of your document
Sign all 3 copies where it says "Signature"
Get it notarized (the verification section needs a notary)
File the original at:
Mail one copy to the plaintiff's attorney at:
Keep one copy for your own records

Need Help?

If you have questions or need assistance, reach out to us:

Enter Your Summons Information

Fill in the details from your court papers. You can find most of this on the first page.

Court Name *

Index/Case Number *

Who is Suing You (Plaintiff) *

Your Name (Defendant) *

Amount They're Claiming *

Date You Were Served *

Plaintiff's Attorney Address *

Court Address *

It's Good to Know

Helpful info about debt collection lawsuits

Don't Panic

This is a civil case, not criminal. Nobody's going to arrest you. You have rights and options. Take a breath — you can handle this.

What Just Happened?

You were "served" — legally notified of a lawsuit. In NY, they can hand it to you, leave it with someone at your home, or post it on your door. Now you have a deadline to respond.

Your Deadline

20 days if handed to you directly. 30 days if left with someone else or posted on your door. Miss it and they win automatically — this is called a "default judgment."

Why You Must Respond

If you don't file an answer, they get a "default judgment." This lets them garnish your wages, freeze your bank account, or put a lien on your property. Always respond!

The 3-Year Rule

In NY, they only have 3 years from your last payment to sue you for credit card debt. If it's been longer, you might have a winning defense!

Don't Recognize Them?

Many lawsuits come from "debt buyers" who purchased your debt for pennies. They often can't prove they own it — that's a strong defense called "lack of standing."

How to File

Print 3 copies of your answer, sign them, get notarized, file one at the court, mail one to their attorney, keep one for yourself. That's it!

Look Up Your Case

Check your case status at NY Courts E-Filing. Click "Search as Guest" and enter your name to see all filed documents.

File Your Own Answer to a Debt Collection Lawsuit