Courts and procedure
Answer
The defendant's formal written response to a complaint, setting out the grounds for their defense.[1]
In more detail
In Florida divorces, whether the responding spouse's answer denies that the marriage is irretrievably broken affects what the court may do next.[2]
Varies by state
This is the federal courts' definition; state courts use the word the same way, though procedures differ by state. Find your state’s rules.
Related terms
- ComplaintThe written statement a plaintiff files to start a civil case, saying why the court has jurisdiction, what the defendant allegedly did wrong, and what the plaintiff wants.
- DefendantIn a civil case, the person or organization being sued; in a criminal case, the person accused of a crime.
- RespondentThe person who responds to a petition, such as the spouse who receives divorce papers.
- Default judgmentA judgment entered for the side that filed the case because the other side didn't answer or appear.
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Sources
The official documents this definition is based on, with the date we last read each one. Definitions are in our own words.
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MediationList. (2026, October 28). Answer: Definition. https://mediationlist.com/glossary/answer/
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