Sued for a debt in Harris County?
Your Answer is generally due by the end of the 14th day after you're served. Meercase prepares and files it so you can respond on time.
Don't lose automatically
Filing an Answer on time is what stops a default judgment. It keeps your side of the case alive.
No lawyer required
JP courts are built for people without attorneys. We prepare the paperwork from your own answers.
Get it behind you
Ten minutes of plain-language questions. We handle preparation and filing, and we track your deadline.
How Meercase works
Find your case
From the letter Meercase mailed you, or by last name and ZIP. Case details come from Harris County's public Justice of the Peace court records.
Answer a few questions
About 10 minutes, in plain language: the debt, the amount, and any defenses you choose to raise.
We prepare and file
Your Answer goes to the court. Not served yet? We hold it and track your deadline.
What happens if you do nothing
14 days
That is the usual window to file an Answer after you are served. Missing it can let the plaintiff seek a default judgment before the court hears your side.
You're served
A constable or process server hands you the citation and petition. A 14-day clock starts.
Your Answer is due
The usual deadline is the end of the 14th day after service. If that falls on a weekend, legal holiday, or an early court closure, the deadline moves to the next court day.
Default judgment
If nothing is on file, the judge can grant the plaintiff everything they asked for without hearing your side.
What a judgment means
It can add court costs and interest, appear in public records, and let the collector ask a court to freeze bank accounts.
Texas generally does not allow wage garnishment for consumer debt. This timeline is general information about Texas JP courts, not legal advice.
Responding is the best move you can make
What an Answer is
It's the short document that tells the court you dispute the case. In Texas JP courts, a general denial can be a sufficient Answer and does not stop you from raising defenses at trial. Filing before a default judgment is entered keeps the case moving with your side included.
What we prepare
A general denial plus any defenses you choose, each explained in one plain sentence before you decide. You pick them; the software never picks for you. Then Meercase files the Answer electronically with your Harris County JP court.
Pay once. No subscription.
$49
Your Answer, prepared and filed.
What's included
- Answer prepared from your responses
- General denial, plus defenses you choose
- E-filed with your Harris County JP court
- Held until you're served, if you want
- Deadline tracking and email updates
Texas JP courts charge no fee to file an Answer, so $49 is the whole cost. You pay us, never the court. Backed by a 100% money-back guarantee.
Questions people ask first
What happens if I ignore the lawsuit?
Once your deadline passes, the plaintiff can ask for a default judgment. The judge can award the full amount plus costs without ever hearing from you. Responding keeps your side of the case alive.
I haven't been served yet. Should I do anything?
You can get ahead of it. The usual 14-day deadline starts the day after you're served, but Meercase can prepare your Answer now, hold it, and file when you tell us the papers arrived.
Can I file an Answer myself for free?
Yes. Harris County JP courts provide a Civil Answer form, and filing an Answer does not require the petition filing fee. Meercase adds plain-language preparation, electronic filing, and deadline tracking.
Is Meercase a law firm?
No. Meercase is self-help software, not a law firm, and we do not give legal advice. We prepare documents from your own answers, you choose your defenses, and every decision about your case stays yours. For advice, talk to a licensed Texas attorney.
Can they take my wages or house in Texas?
Texas generally does not allow wage garnishment for consumer debt, and a homestead is generally protected. After a judgment, a collector can ask a court to freeze bank accounts. This is general information, not legal advice.
Will this stop the debt collector calling?
Not by itself. An Answer responds to the lawsuit; collection calls are governed by separate rules. What it does is move the dispute in front of a judge instead of leaving it to a missed deadline.
How long does filing take?
The questions take about 10 minutes. We typically submit the e-filing the same or next business day, and the court clerk then processes it on the court's own schedule. We track it until it's on file.