Q: How do I answer a foreclosure complaint?
A: You either admit, deny or are without knowledge as to the paragraphs in the complaint. The you allege affirmative defenses. Only an experienced attorney should do this. You waive any defenses that you do not raise in the answer. Many times the appropriate thing to do is move to dismiss the complaint.
A: You should really hire an attorney for this. If you don't raise a defense, you will waive it later. I have had so many people come to me at the last minute asking me to take a case and I have to tell them that they waived all their defenses by not stating them earlier. If you can't afford an attorney, try your local bar association or legal aid to see if they can assist you. Otherwise, attorneys' fees are usually reasonable for foreclosure defense compared to other areas of law.
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