(a) When Presented. If a complaint is duly served, the defendant shall serve an answer within 30 days after the issuance of the summons, except when a different time is prescribed by the court. The court shall prescribe the time for service of the answer when service of a complaint is made by publication or upon a party in a foreign country. A party served with a pleading stating a crossclaim shall serve an answer thereto within 21 days after service. The plaintiff shall serve a reply to a counterclaim in the answer within 21 days after service of the answer or, if a reply is ordered by the court, within 21 days after service of the order, unless the order otherwise directs. The United States or an officer or agency thereof shall serve an answer to a complaint within 35 days after the issuance of the summons, and shall serve an answer to a crossclaim, or a reply to a counterclaim, within 35 days after service upon the United States attorney of the pleading in which the claim is asserted. The service of a motion permitted under this rule alters these periods of time as follows, unless a different time is fixed by order of the court: (1) if the court denies the motion or postpones its disposition until the trial on the merits, the responsive pleading shall be served within 14 days after notice of the court’s action; (2) if the court grants a motion for a more definite statement, the responsive pleading shall be served within 14 days after the service of a more definite statement.
(b) Applicability of Rule 12(b)–(i) F.R.Civ.P. Rule 12(b)–(i) F.R.Civ.P. applies in adversary proceedings. A responsive pleading shall include a statement that the party does or does not consent to entry of final orders or judgment by the bankruptcy court.
(As amended Mar. 30, 1987, eff. Aug. 1, 1987; Apr. 23, 2008, eff. Dec. 1, 2008; Mar. 26, 2009, eff. Dec. 1, 2009; Apr. 28, 2016, eff. Dec. 1, 2016.)
added in current removed in current
Compared to current version (2025).
(a) When Presented. If a complaTime to Serve. The time to serve a responsive pleadintg is duly served, theas follows:
(1) Answer to a Complaint in General. A defendant shallmust serve an answer to a complaint within 30 days after the issuance of the summons, except when a different time is prescribed by the court. The court shall prescribesummons was issued, unless the court sets a different time.
(2) Answer to a Complaint Served by Publication or on a Party in a Foreign Country. The court must set the time forto service of the answer when service ofe an answer to a complaint is madeserved by publication or upserved on a party in a foreign country.
(3) Answer to a Crossclaim. A party served with a pleading that statinges a crossclaim shallmust serve an answer theretoo the crossclaim within 21 days after service. The plaintiff shall serve a reply to a counterclaim in the answerbeing served.
(4) Answer to a Counterclaim. A plaintiff served with an answer that contains a counterclaim must serve an answer to the counterclaim within 21 days after service of:
(A) the answer; or, if a reply is ordered by the court, within 21 days after service
(B) a court order requiring an answer, unless the order states otherwise.
(5) Answer to a Complaint or Crossclaim-or Answer to a Counterclaim-Served ofn the order, unless the order otherwise directsUnited States or an Officer or Agency. The United States or anits officer or agency thereof shall servemust serve:
(A) an answer to a complaint within 35 days after the issuance of the summons, and shall servesummons was issued; and
(B) an answer to a crossclaim, or a reply to a counterclaim, within 35 days after service upon the United States attorney of the pleading in which the claim is asserted. Theis served with the pleading that asserts the claim.
(6) Effect of a Motion. Unless the court sets a different time, service ofng a motion permitted under this rule alters these periods of times as follows, unless a different time is fixed by order of the court: (1:
(A) if the court denies the motion or postpones its disposition until the trial on the meritsrial, the responsive pleading shallmust be served within 14 days after notice of the court’s action; (2or
(B) if the court grants a motion for a more definite statement, the responsive pleading shallmust be served within 14 days after the service of a more definite statementtatement is served.
(b) Applicability of Civil Rule 12(b)-(i). F.ed. R. Civ. P. Rule 12(b)-(i) F.R.Civ.P. applies in an adversary proceedings. A responsive pleading shall include a statement thatmust state whether the party does or does not consent to the entry of final orders or judgment by the bankruptcy court.
(As amended Mar. 30, 1987, eff. Aug. 1, 1987; Apr. 23, 2008, eff. Dec. 1, 2008; Mar. 26, 2009, eff. Dec. 1, 2009; Apr. 28, 2016, eff. Dec. 1, 2016; Apr. 2, 2024, eff. Dec. 1, 2024.)