How long does it take a federal court to answer a complaint?

Answer by  John (9008)

It varies with the exact court and the type of lawsuit that you have filed. In general, they get 30 days from when you serve them with court papers (you, not the court, are responsible for ensuring that they get served). In some cases, it could be longer (for example, the federal government usually gets 60 days).

Answer by  Samantha57 (391)

The court does not answer a complaint; the defendant does. Under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, the defendant has 30 days. However, this may be extended for various reasons.