What document does a respondent file to respond to a complaint?

• A. Answer
• B. Writ of subpoena
• C. Stipulation
• D. Election of Rights form

Answer: (A)

When served with a complaint, the respondent files an Answer. This pleading lets the respondent address each factual allegation by admitting or denying it, and it also provides any defenses or objections—such as lack of jurisdiction or improper service—that affect the case. The Answer is the formal starting point for the respondent’s side in the litigation and sets up the framework for discovery and the eventual resolution. If no Answer is filed within the allowed timeframe, the other party may seek a default judgment.

A writ of subpoena is a court command to compel testimony or the production of documents, not a reply to the allegations in the complaint. A stipulation is a negotiated agreement between the parties on a particular issue, not the formal response to the complaint. An Election of Rights form isn’t a standard document used to respond to a civil complaint.