Important Disclaimer – Please Read Carefully
1. This template is provided solely for general informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice.
2. No attorney–client relationship is created by your use of this material.
3. Utah’s procedural rules change periodically and may contain nuances not captured here. Always have a licensed Utah attorney review, customize, and file any pleading.

State of Utah District Court

Answer and General Denial to Complaint – Template

(Utah R. Civ. P. 8, 12 & 13)

[// GUIDANCE: Replace all bracketed text and remove GUIDANCE comments before filing.]

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Introductory Pleading Information (Caption)
2. Preliminary Statement & Timeliness
3. General Denial
4. Specific Admissions / Denials (Optional)
5. Affirmative Defenses
6. Compulsory / Permissive Counterclaims (Optional)
7. Reservation of Additional Defenses
8. Prayer for Relief
9. Jury Demand (if applicable)
10. Verification (if required)
11. Certificate of Service

1. INTRODUCTORY PLEADING INFORMATION (CAPTION)

IN THE THIRD JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT OF THE STATE OF UTAH
IN AND FOR [COUNTY] COUNTY

[PLAINTIFF NAME],
Plaintiff,

v. ANSWER AND GENERAL DENIAL
TO COMPLAINT
[DEFENDANT NAME],
Defendant. Civil No. [######]
Judge [FULL NAME]
[// GUIDANCE: Verify court level/district and county.]

2. PRELIMINARY STATEMENT & TIMELINESS

1. Pursuant to Utah Rule of Civil Procedure 12(a)(1)(A), Defendant files this Answer within twenty-one (21) days after service of the Summons and Complaint.
2. All allegations not expressly admitted herein are denied.

3. GENERAL DENIAL

3.1 Under Utah Rule of Civil Procedure 8(b)(3), Defendant generally denies each and every allegation of the Complaint and demands strict proof thereof.

4. SPECIFIC ADMISSIONS / DENIALS (Optional)

[// GUIDANCE: If desired, list each paragraph number from the Complaint, followed by “Admitted,” “Denied,” or “Insufficient knowledge…,” e.g.:

4.1 Paragraph 1 – Admitted.
4.2 Paragraph 2 – Denied.
4.3 Paragraph 3 – Defendant lacks sufficient information to form a belief as to the truth of the allegations and therefore denies the same.
]

5. AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSES

Subject to further investigation and discovery, Defendant asserts the following affirmative defenses under Utah Rule of Civil Procedure 8(c). Listing a defense below does not assume the burden of proof beyond that allocated by law.

1. Failure to State a Claim.
2. Lack of Standing.
3. Statute of Limitations / Statute of Repose.
4. Accord and Satisfaction.
5. Estoppel (including equitable estoppel, promissory estoppel, and judicial estoppel).
6. Waiver and/or Release.
7. Payment.
8. Comparative Fault.
9. Failure to Mitigate Damages.
10. Unclean Hands.
11. Laches.
12. Set-Off and/or Recoupment.
13. Reservation: Defendant reserves the right to assert additional defenses that may become known through discovery.

[// GUIDANCE: Delete defenses that are clearly inapplicable and add any others necessary to preserve rights.]

6. COUNTERCLAIMS (Optional)

[// GUIDANCE: Under Utah Rule of Civil Procedure 13(a) (compulsory) and 13(b) (permissive), assert any claims arising out of the same transaction or occurrence, or any unrelated claims you wish to bring now to avoid future claim-preclusion issues.]

6.1 Counterclaim 1 – [Title of Claim]
a. Jurisdiction & Venue.
b. Factual Allegations.
c. Cause(s) of Action.
d. Damages / Relief Requested.

6.2 Counterclaim 2 – [Repeat structure as needed]

7. RESERVATION OF ADDITIONAL DEFENSES

Defendant expressly reserves the right to amend this Answer, assert additional affirmative defenses, and file dispositive motions as permitted by the Utah Rules of Civil Procedure or by order of the Court.

8. PRAYER FOR RELIEF

WHEREFORE, Defendant respectfully requests that the Court:

A. Dismiss the Complaint in its entirety with prejudice;
B. Enter judgment in favor of Defendant on all claims;
C. Award Defendant costs, reasonable attorneys’ fees as permitted by contract or statute, and such further relief as the Court deems just and proper.

9. JURY DEMAND (if applicable)

Pursuant to Rule 38 of the Utah Rules of Civil Procedure, Defendant demands a trial by jury on all issues so triable.

10. VERIFICATION (if required)

[// GUIDANCE: Utah generally does not require a verified answer unless a specific statute demands it. If verification is needed, insert a notarized verification block here.]

11. CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

I certify that on this ___ day of ____, 20__, I caused a true and correct copy of the foregoing Answer and General Denial to be served upon the following by:

☐ Email
☐ U.S. Mail, postage prepaid
☐ Court e-filing system
☐ Other: _____

Counsel for Plaintiff:
[NAME & ADDRESS]

[DEFENDANT’S ATTORNEY NAME], Esq.
Utah Bar No. [#####]
[LAW FIRM NAME]
[ADDRESS]
[PHONE] | [EMAIL]

SIGNATURE BLOCK

Respectfully submitted this ___ day of ____, 20__.

[DEFENDANT’S ATTORNEY NAME], Attorney for Defendant
Utah Bar No. [#####]

[// GUIDANCE:
1. Ensure compliance with Utah R. Civ. P. 5(b) for service.
2. E-signature format must comply with Utah Code § 46-4-201 et seq. when e-filing.
3. Double-check local court rules (e.g., Third District local rules) for caption format, font, margins, and filing mechanics.
4. If Defendant is unrepresented, replace attorney signature block with pro-se litigant information and include the mandatory “Notice to Self-Represented Parties” where required.
]

End of Template