How to reply to summons?

[deezee]

Can anyone here who is more knowledgable on the subject guide those of us who can't afford lawyers as to how to reply to the summonses... I dont want the default judgment made but also i dont want to get a lawyer especially since i've done nothing wrong.

[Mechanic]

http://www.dsschat.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=120611

[Cmch]

http://www.nwjustice.org/pdfs/205.pdf

That should give you a start. Most Answers actually filed by an Attorney address each allegation, and do not simply "deny" multiple allegations in the same paragraph such as example below.

Look at the 1st page of your complaint where it lists all the names of people being sued. Your cover page should be similar formatting. You will name all the defendants how they have it listed. In your response, you'll put something like ANSWER OF DEFENDANT JOHN DOE. My attorney said don't work on an affirmative defense. Just keep the answer simple. Deny, Deny in part, or agree. Pretty much you deny everything, depending on either lack of knowledge, or flat out deny. You agree to where you live. For legal responses such as jurisdiction and venue, you just say that is up to the court.

There are multiple links here and there to actual answers:

Here's one I found, but I'm not really following his for mine.
http://www.vaweb.net/
The PDF files are flakey. It may take a few tries using Adobe's latest reader "6.0"

[LAWMAN]

FILING A PRO SE ANSWER

If you have been served with a civil Summons and Complaint or Petition, you must respond to the claim or a default judgment could be entered against you. It is preferable to consult an attorney when you have been served; however, if you are unable to obtain an attorney’s services, you have the option of filing a response or Answer for yourself, or pro se. The time for filing an Answer is always a specified time from the service of the original Summons and Complaint or Petition. Within the State of Arkansas, you normally have twenty (20) days to file an Answer or Response to avoid being in default. If you are served with an action that was filed in another State, the time period for filing an Answer may be different; however, the Summons should state the number of days available to you. Failing to file an Answer to the Complaint within the specified time period could result in a default judgment being entered against you, so it is important that you file an Answer in a timely manner.

Allegations that are not denied in response to the Complaint or Petition are deemed admitted, so it is important that all allegations contained in the Complaint or Petition are addressed in your Answer. Your answers to the allegations in the Complaint or Petition should be set forth in a clear and plain statement. You may respond with:
1:An admission or denial of the allegation
2:A combination of an admission in part and a denial in part
3:A claim that the defendant is without sufficient knowledge or information to for a belief as to the truth of the allegation, having the effect of a denial.
_____________________________________________________________________The other links are also helpful that the guys have given you here!!