District of Columbia Judicial Mortgage Foreclosure Answer
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA JUDICIAL MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE ANSWER
Before filing: Read the summons and any court order for the deadline. Rule 12(a)(1)(A) ordinarily requires service of an answer within 21 days after service of the summons and complaint. Serve the answer on the opposing party or counsel under Rule 5 and file it with the court under Rule 5(d)(1). Answer every material allegation: Rule 8(b)(6) treats an allegation other than a damages amount as admitted when a required response fails to deny it. Keep only defenses supported by facts and law after reasonable inquiry.
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA — CIVIL DIVISION
| Party | Role |
|---|---|
| [PLAINTIFF NAME], | Plaintiff |
| v. | |
| [DEFENDANT NAME], | Defendant |
Case No.: [____] Judge or calendar, if assigned: [____]
Defendant's name and residence address: [NAME; STREET, CITY, STATE, ZIP]
Defendant's telephone and email, if unrepresented: [PHONE; EMAIL OR NONE]
ANSWER TO COMPLAINT FOR JUDICIAL MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE
Defendant [NAME] responds to Plaintiff's complaint as follows. Use a separate numbered response for every paragraph of the actual complaint. If only part of an allegation is true, identify the admitted part and deny the rest. If Defendant lacks sufficient knowledge or information after reasonable inquiry, say so for that allegation.
1. Responses to complaint allegations
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As to Complaint ¶ [1], Defendant ☐ admits it ☐ denies it ☐ admits only [SPECIFIC PART] and denies the remainder ☐ lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief about its truth and therefore denies it. [EXPLANATION, IF NEEDED]
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As to Complaint ¶ [2], Defendant ☐ admits it ☐ denies it ☐ admits only [SPECIFIC PART] and denies the remainder ☐ lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief about its truth and therefore denies it. [EXPLANATION, IF NEEDED]
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As to Complaint ¶ [3], Defendant ☐ admits it ☐ denies it ☐ admits only [SPECIFIC PART] and denies the remainder ☐ lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief about its truth and therefore denies it. [EXPLANATION, IF NEEDED]
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For every remaining Complaint ¶ [NUMBER], Defendant responds: [ADD A SEPARATE, NUMBERED ADMISSION, DENIAL, PARTIAL ADMISSION, OR GOOD-FAITH LACK-OF-KNOWLEDGE RESPONSE].
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As to Plaintiff's requested judgment, sale, balance, fees, and other relief, Defendant [ADMIT, DENY, OR IDENTIFY WHAT REQUIRES PROOF]. Defendant admits no default, amount due, right to foreclose, or personal liability except as expressly stated above.
2. Affirmative defenses, only where factually supported
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Payment or credit: [IDENTIFY EACH PAYMENT OR CREDIT, DATE, AMOUNT, AND SUPPORTING RECORD / DELETE IF INAPPLICABLE].
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Disputed notice or contractual condition: [IDENTIFY THE SPECIFIC NOTICE OR CONDITION, ITS SOURCE IN THE LOAN DOCUMENTS OR APPLICABLE LAW, AND THE FACTS SHOWING NONCOMPLIANCE / DELETE IF INAPPLICABLE].
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Disputed right to enforce: [STATE SPECIFIC FACTS AND DOCUMENTS SHOWING WHY PLAINTIFF'S ENFORCEMENT RIGHT IS DISPUTED / DELETE IF INAPPLICABLE].
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Other avoidance or affirmative defense: [NAME THE DEFENSE AND FACTS SUPPORTING IT / DELETE IF INAPPLICABLE].
3. Request for relief
Defendant requests that the Court deny any foreclosure sale, monetary judgment, or other relief that Plaintiff has not proved or that a supported defense bars; apply any proven payment or credit; determine disputed amounts from the evidence; and grant other relief authorized by law.
Dated: [__/__/____]
Signature of Defendant or counsel: ______________________________
Printed name: [NAME] D.C. Bar number, if counsel: [NUMBER / NOT APPLICABLE]
Address: [STREET, CITY, STATE, ZIP] Telephone: [PHONE] Email: [EMAIL / NONE]
Service record
I served this Answer on [PLAINTIFF'S COUNSEL OR UNREPRESENTED PLAINTIFF] at [ADDRESS OR AUTHORIZED ELECTRONIC DESTINATION] on [__/__/____] by [METHOD PERMITTED BY RULE 5, AGREEMENT, OR COURT ORDER].
Signature: ______________________________ Date: [__/__/____]
Official references
- D.C. Courts mortgage foreclosure case guide.
- Superior Court Rules of Civil Procedure, including Rules 5, 8, 10, 10-I, 11, and 12.
- 2026 order amending Rule 5(d).
About this template
- Last updated
- November 1, 2026
- Citations checked
- November 1, 2026
- Jurisdiction
- District of Columbia
- Category
- Real Estate
Legal authority
- D.C. Super. Ct. Civ. R. 5(a)(1)(B), (d)(1) (service and filing of an answer)
- D.C. Super. Ct. Civ. R. 8(b)-(c) (responses and affirmative defenses)
- D.C. Super. Ct. Civ. R. 10(a)-(b), 10-I(b)(1) (caption, numbered paragraphs, and contact information)
- D.C. Super. Ct. Civ. R. 11(a)-(b) (signature and support for contentions)
- D.C. Super. Ct. Civ. R. 12(a)(1)(A) (ordinary answer period)
Real estate documents transfer ownership, define who can use a property, and record agreements between buyers, sellers, landlords, and tenants. Deeds, purchase agreements, leases, and easements have to be drafted to meet state recording requirements, and mistakes show up at closing or years later in title disputes. Good real estate paperwork moves transactions forward quickly and avoids the kind of problems that only surface when it is time to sell or refinance.
Not legal advice
This template is provided for informational purposes. We recommend having an attorney review any legal document before signing, especially for high-value or complex matters.
Checked against the law it cites
A reviewer verified this template's legal citations against the official source on November 1, 2026.
D.C. Courts, Mortgage Foreclosure Sales (checked November 1, 2026): "The borrower must file a response that tells their side of the story within 21 days."
D.C. Super. Ct. Civ. R. 5(a)(1)(B) (checked November 1, 2026): "a pleading filed after the original complaint, unless the court orders otherwise"
D.C. Super. Ct. Civ. R. 5(d)(1), as amended by Rule Promulgation Order 26-02 (checked November 1, 2026): "Any paper after the complaint that is required to be served, other than those referred to in Rule 5(d)(2) and Rule 12-I(d) and (e), must be filed no later than 7 days after service."
D.C. Super. Ct. Civ. R. 8(b)(1), (b)(6), (c)(1) (checked November 1, 2026): "In responding to a pleading, a party must: (A) state in short and plain terms its defenses to each claim asserted against it; and (B) admit or deny the allegations asserted against it by an opposing party."
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