How long do parties have to respond to pleadings?

In Washington, parties involved in a civil action have up to 20 days to respond to pleadings, or written court requests in a lawsuit. Most often, this means that the defendant in a case needs to answer the complaint that the plaintiff has filed against them. If a defendant fails to respond within the 20-day period, the plaintiff may be able to obtain a judgment against them by default. There are certain situations in which the time frame for responding to pleadings may be shortened. In some cases, a motion for a more speedy response can be filed, and the presiding judge can determine whether or not the time frame for a response should be adjusted. The judge may also choose to give the defendant more time to answer the complaint if the case merits it. In addition to the 20-day time frame for responding to pleadings, a party may also request an extension of time to answer the complaint. If the request is granted, the defendant will have an additional 20 days from the date of the granted extension to answer the complaint. Overall, parties involved in a civil action in Washington have up to 40 days to respond to a complaint – 20 days to answer the complaint or request an extension, and then a potential 20 days if the extension is granted. Keep in mind that any delays in responding to pleadings may result in the plaintiff obtaining a judgment against the defendant by default.

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How long do parties have to respond to pleadings?

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