How to Respond to a Debt Claim

Circuit Court

Step 1 - Serve an Entry of Appearance Form and a Defence Form

In order to defend a Circuit Court debt claim, you, the respondent, must first complete, submit, and serve an Entry of Appearance form (Form 5). You must then submit and serve a Defence form (Form 6A). By completing these actions, you are defending the claim being made against you.

Complete, Submit, and Serve Your Entry of Appearance Form

You must first complete your Entry of Appearance form. This form must contain the following information (some of which you will find on the Claim Notice (known as a Civil Bill in the Circuit Court) you received):

• The name of the circuit and county in which the claim is being defended.

• The person on whose behalf the Appearance form is being submitted.

• Details of the parties involved, such as names and legal representatives' details (if known).
• Date and signature of you (the respondent) or your solicitor.

Once you have completed this form, you should make two copies of it and submit the original form to the court office named on the Claim Notice you received. You do not have to pay a court fee to submit this form.

• The name of the circuit and county in which the claim is being defended.
• The person on whose behalf the Defence form is being served. 

• Details of the parties involved, such as names and legal representatives' details (if known).

• Grounds of defence. This is where you provide clear information about how you intend to defend the claim. In your grounds of defence you must:

• Clearly outline which claims in the Claim Notice you admit, do not admit, or deny, including reasons for denial.
• Include a list of any correspondence or documents that you will rely on in your defence.
• Date and signature of you (the respondent) or your solicitor.
  

This form also contains a Counterclaim section. You do not need to complete this section, or submit your Defence form to the court office, unless you are making a counterclaim. For more information on making a counterclaim, please see step 2.

Once you have completed the Defence form, you should make a copy of it and serve the claimant or their solicitor within 10 days of submitting the Entry of Appearance form. If you do not serve this form within the 10 days, you must get written permission for late service from the other party before serving them.

For more information on serving and proof of service, please see our Serving and Proof of Service page.