Under the Federal Rules, when is the defendant's answer due after service of the complaint if no other rule applies?

Under the Federal Rules, when is the defendant's answer due after service of the complaint if no other rule applies?

• A. 21 days
• B. 14 days
• C. 30 days
• D. 60 days

Answer: (A)

The time to answer is 21 days after service of the summons and complaint. This is the default period set by the Federal Rules for a defendant to respond, starting the day after service is complete. If the 21st day would fall on a weekend or holiday, you file on the next business day. The clock only grows longer if another rule applies (for example, if the defendant waived service, which gives 60 days to respond). The other options don’t fit the default timeline.

The time to answer is 21 days after service of the summons and complaint. This is the default period set by the Federal Rules for a defendant to respond, starting the day after service is complete. If the 21st day would fall on a weekend or holiday, you file on the next business day. The clock only grows longer if another rule applies (for example, if the defendant waived service, which gives 60 days to respond). The other options don’t fit the default timeline.