Do You Have to File a Written Answer in Kentucky Small Claims Court?

No Written Answer Is Required

In Kentucky's Small Claims Division, you do not file a written answer, a response form, or any kind of responsive pleading to defend yourself. There is no standard "Answer Form" for defendants and no filing deadline tied to one.

Your appearance at the hearing is your answer. When you show up on the scheduled date and time, the court treats that as a complete denial of the plaintiff's claims. Every defense you have is preserved by being there.

This rule comes directly from KRS Chapter 24A, the statute that governs the Small Claims Division. The official Small Claims Handbook published by the Kentucky Court of Justice and the Attorney General's office confirms it: the defendant's attendance at the scheduled hearing is the only mandatory response.

Why the Confusion Exists

The 20-day written answer requirement that many people have heard of applies to standard civil cases in Kentucky District Court and Circuit Court under CR 12.01. In those courts, a defendant must file a formal written Answer within 20 days of service or face a default judgment.

The small claims division operates under different rules. KRS 24A.200 through 24A.360 replace the standard civil procedure with a simplified process. The entire point of the small claims division is accessibility — no written pleadings, no formal discovery, and no requirement for an attorney.

The confusion is amplified by online legal services that sell automated "written answer" documents. Companies like SoloSuit market answer-filing services for debt collection lawsuits, where a written answer is indeed required. But those services address regular civil court debt cases, not small claims. A defendant who buys a written answer template for a Kentucky small claims case is paying for a document the court does not expect and does not need.

What Actually Has a Deadline

While no written answer is needed, two specific actions do have firm advance deadlines measured from the hearing date:

Counterclaim (5 days before the hearing): If you want to claim the plaintiff owes you money from the same transaction, file Form AOC-185 with the Circuit Court Clerk and serve a copy on the plaintiff at least five days before the hearing.

Jury trial demand (7 days before the hearing): If the plaintiff's claim or the value of property in dispute exceeds $250, you can request a jury trial in writing. This transfers the case from small claims to the regular District Court docket, with different rules and an additional fee.

These deadlines are calculated by excluding the hearing day itself. If a calculated counterclaim or jury-demand deadline falls on a weekend or legal holiday, it rolls back to the preceding business day.

What Happens If You Do Not Show Up

The consequence of missing the hearing — not of failing to file a written answer — is a default judgment. The judge calls the case, notes the defendant's absence, and enters judgment in favor of the plaintiff on Form AOC-190. The clerk stamps the entry date and mails copies to both parties.

A default judgment can be set aside, but the window is narrow. A motion under CR 59.05 must be filed within 10 days. A motion under CR 60.02 (for mistake, surprise, or excusable neglect) has up to one year, but filing it does not automatically stop enforcement of the judgment.

The Bottom Line

If you have been served with small claims papers in Kentucky: do not spend time looking for an answer form to file. Focus your preparation on the hearing itself — organizing your evidence, identifying your witnesses, and understanding the timeline.

The Kentucky Small Claims Response Guide covers what to do from the day you are served through the hearing, including deadline tracking and evidence preparation worksheets.

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