Florida Foreclosure Defense Lawyers

20 Days to Answer a Foreclosure Complaint

In Florida, you have only 20 days to file an answer to foreclosure with the court. If you fail to file an answer within those 20 days, you will most likely lose your home – and there will be nothing to do about it.

However, by acting quickly and consulting a foreclosure defense lawyer, you can find out what your options are to avoid foreclosure and save your home. You may be able to work out a loan modification agreement with your lender in order to lower your mortgage payment to something that you can actually afford. You may be able to sell your home before it can foreclose. By discussing your matter with an experienced attorney, you can make an informed decision that will be right for your particular situation.

Filing an Answer to Foreclosure in Florida

Foreclosure is a legal proceeding that a lender may start when a homeowner defaults on his or her mortgage loan. To default, the borrower would fail to meet the terms of his or her mortgage loan agreement – such as failing to pay the mortgage for a period of time. The lender will then file a lawsuit against the borrower, declaring that the borrower is in default and demanding the full payment of your loan.

After you are served, informed in writing that there is a lawsuit pending against you, you will have 20 days to file an answer with the court. An answer must be valid and actually grounds to contest the lender’s allegations against you.

Once you have been served, you should contact a Florida foreclosure attorney as soon as possible. You need to be sure that you file an answer within the 20-day time period and that it is a valid answer. A hearing date will then be set, and you will need an attorney at your side in the hearing to ensure that your interests are properly represented. Your attorney will also play an important part in buying you time to follow through with negotiations with the lender, a short sale or deed in lieu of foreclosure before it is too late.

Contact a Florida foreclosure defense lawyer at Carman Law Firm, PA today to see how we can help.