How many days do I have to respond to a foreclosure summons?

It varies by how the summons is worded and local court rules, which is why an attorney should confirm the exact deadline as soon as possible after being served.

What happens if I miss the deadline to answer?

The lender can typically seek a default judgment, which removes most opportunities to raise defenses later in the case.

Can I still work out a loan modification after answering the summons?

Yes, filing an answer preserves your position in court while loss mitigation or settlement talks continue separately.

Respond to a foreclosure summons before the deadline

Being served with a foreclosure summons starts a strict clock. Missing the deadline to file an answer can mean a default judgment against the homeowner without ever raising a defense, even a valid one like improper service or errors in the lender's paperwork.

This is a distinct moment from general litigation defense: the person searching here usually has a specific number of days left and needs to know, quickly, whether they can respond themselves, need an attorney to draft an answer, or should raise counterclaims tied to loan servicing problems.

Review of the summons and complaint to confirm the actual response deadline
Drafting and filing a timely answer with applicable defenses and affirmative defenses
Initial read on whether the lender's paperwork or standing to sue has weaknesses worth raising

Bringing the summons, the complaint, and any mortgage or servicing correspondence to the first call lets the attorney give a realistic answer about how much time is actually left.

What it costs

Answering a summons is typically a smaller, defined-scope task compared to full case defense, often priced as a flat fee for the initial answer with the option to continue at an hourly or retainer rate if the case proceeds.

Top 3 by our score

Ranked from our published scoring of public Google reviews for foreclosure defense litigation.

1. Law Office of Anadel Canale
5.0★ · 86 reviews

90
2. Ronald S. Cook, PC
4.9★ · 934 reviews

90
3. Law Office of Michael A. Schillinger, Esq.
5.0★ · 285 reviews

94

See the full ranking → · Browse all providers

FAQ

How many days do I have to respond to a foreclosure summons?: It varies by how the summons is worded and local court rules, which is why an attorney should confirm the exact deadline as soon as possible after being served.
What happens if I miss the deadline to answer?: The lender can typically seek a default judgment, which removes most opportunities to raise defenses later in the case.
Can I still work out a loan modification after answering the summons?: Yes, filing an answer preserves your position in court while loss mitigation or settlement talks continue separately.

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