How to Respond to a Debt Collection Summons in Wyoming

Being sued for debt creates stress. You might want to ignore the summons entirely.

Ignoring a debt collection summons is a critical mistake. It creates more problems than you already face.

This guide shows you how to respond to a debt collection summons in Wyoming. You’ll learn the specific deadlines and affirmative defenses you can use.

You have two options when faced with a lawsuit. File your own Answer or work with our partner Solo to create the necessary legal documents.

File an Answer Before the Wyoming Deadline

Your deadline depends on where you were served the Summons and Complaint.

If served within Wyoming, you have 20 days to respond. If served outside Wyoming, you get 30 days. Wyo. R. Prac. & P. 12 outlines these requirements.

Process servers typically deliver the Summons and Complaint personally. The document summons you to respond in court.

The documents indicate:

• Court hearing date
• Court location
• Plaintiff’s name
• Reason for the lawsuit
• Amount claimed

The countdown starts when you receive the documents. Deadlines falling on weekends or holidays shift to the next business day.

Your response determines what happens next. Without an Answer within 20-30 days, the court rules a default judgment against you.

You can defend yourself only if you file before the deadline. Skip filing if you agree with the debt and circumstances.

You should file an Answer if:

• You disagree with the debt amount
• The creditor violated contract terms
• You have evidence of full or partial payment
• You don’t recognize the debt

Responding requires filing an Answer and attending hearings with supporting evidence. Deliver a copy to the plaintiff or their attorney.

Use These Wyoming Answer Forms

Your Answer form must contain specific information.

Include:

• Court, case, and party information
• Responses to every paragraph in the Complaint
• Affirmative Defenses explaining why you don’t owe

Your Answer must follow the correct format with accurate case information. Working with our partner Solo makes this process simple and effective.

For debts under $6,000, use the Small Claims form. Small claims typically don’t require filing anything with courts. You only need to attend the hearing.

Answer Filing Fees in Wyoming

Wyoming courts don’t charge fees for filing an Answer.

You can hand deliver your copy or send it by certified mail. You pay only the mailing costs.

Send a copy to the plaintiff or their lawyer too.

Follow These Steps to Respond

The lawsuit begins when you receive the Summons and Complaint.

The Summons outlines the case. The Complaint highlights the argument.

You must respond within 20-30 days. Otherwise, the court rules a default judgment.

Follow these four steps:

1. Create your Answer document
2. Answer the plaintiff’s allegations
3. Assert your affirmative defenses
4. File with the court and serve the plaintiff

Step 1: Create Your Answer Document

Creating your Answer requires following a specific format.

Retrieve most information from your Summons and Complaint.

Include at the top:

• Court information: court name, address, and location
• Docket information: courthouse abbreviation, case number, and filing year
• Personal information: your name and address
• Plaintiff information: plaintiff’s name, company, and attorney

Step 2: Answer the Plaintiff’s Allegations

Respond independently to each Complaint paragraph.

Debt collection cases typically have 10 to 30 paragraphs. Paragraphs may be organized into sections like facts, parties, and jurisdiction.

You’re limited to these responses:

• Admit: You acknowledge the allegations in that paragraph
• Deny: You disagree with the allegations
• Lack of information: You don’t have information to respond or don’t understand
• Not directed to defendant: Only applies when allegations target your co-defendant

Sign the document on page two for non-e-filed cases.

For small claims under $6,000, file a Small Claims form instead.

The form includes court information and your details. Section A presents options for proceeding:

• Requesting a court hearing
• Claim undisputed or claim payment
• Requesting a jury trial in higher court (for claims exceeding $1,500)
• Filing bankruptcy status

Complete Section B for counterclaims or Section C when filing for another party.

Step 3: Assert Your Affirmative Defenses

Wyoming law recognizes legal reasons you may not owe a debt.

These reasons are affirmative defenses. Common defenses include:

• Release: You’re not obligated if bankruptcy discharged this debt previously
• Accord and Satisfaction: You paid a fraction to satisfy the whole amount
• Payment: You already paid the debt in full
• Statute of limitations: The time limit for suing has expired

File a counterclaim if the plaintiff violated Wyoming debt collection laws.

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) protects you from inappropriate tactics. Evidence of FDCPA violations supports your counterclaim.

Debt collectors cannot:

• Threaten physical or financial harm
• Use obscene or profane language
• Call you repeatedly
• Call before 8:00 a.m. or after 9:00 p.m.
• Contact you at work

Step 4: File and Serve Your Answer

Filing your Answer is the final step.

Draft your Answer and file it with the court. Proof of responding within the deadline is important.

Drop your Answer at the courthouse or mail it. Our partner Solo can file your Answer for you.

Check the Statute of Limitations First

Your debt has an expiration date. Knowing this helps consumers with old unpaid debts.

Creditors sometimes forget debtors on their records. They may resurface years later demanding payment and threatening lawsuits.

Wyoming protects consumers with statute of limitation provisions. These limitations set time limits for filing lawsuits.

In Wyoming, the statute of limitations is 10 years for most debts. Creditors must sue within ten years of your last payment. After that, their legal right expires.

Statute of Limitations on Debt in Wyoming

Debt collectors may still sue after the statute expires. They can win if you don’t raise the expired statute in court.

Check how old the debt is before responding. In some states, acknowledging debt or making a payment restarts the clock.

Wyoming is a borrowing state. It can borrow laws from other states for statute of limitation cases.

For example, New Mexico’s six-year limit applies even after moving to Wyoming. You’re still bound by New Mexico’s expiry date.

Never ignore a lawsuit on expired debt. The court doesn’t know the debt expired automatically. Creditors won’t reveal this fact.

Some collectors don’t know the debt expired due to faulty transfers. Respond with an Answer stating the expired statute as your defense.

The collector will likely withdraw. The judge may dismiss during the hearing.

Attend court and prove your case. The judge needs to see your last account activity. They’ll calculate the expiration from that date to the lawsuit date.

If your debt is valid and within the statute, consider debt settlement next.

How to Settle Debt in Wyoming

Debt settlement means asking creditors to accept less than you owe.

Some consumers doubt collectors will accept such offers. But if collectors believe you may not pay, they often agree. Some repayment beats receiving nothing.

Follow these three steps to settle outside court:

1. Respond by Sending an Answer

Don’t ignore the lawsuit hoping the creditor gives up.

Lawsuits differ from calls you’ve successfully ignored. Without an Answer within 20 days, the creditor wins. They can access your bank account, garnish wages, or put liens on property.

Focus on the Complaint document listing allegations. Respond to those and add your affirmative defenses.

2. Send an Offer and Negotiate

Approach the creditor while waiting for your court date.

Send a debt settlement letter asking them to accept a percentage as full payment. Strong affirmative defenses may prompt positive responses.

Skip settling if your defense proves the debt isn’t yours. Otherwise, make a reasonable offer without offending the creditor.

Don’t overpromise if you lack the money. Explain your situation and mention the lump sum is all you can spare.

3. Put Everything in Writing

Get written agreements when they accept your offer.

Collectors sometimes break their word to get more money. Don’t take their word as truth.

Provide a settlement agreement to sign. Show the amount represents full debt payment. Add a section confirming they’ll drop the lawsuit.

Get Debt Relief in Wyoming

Imagine the relief of no longer carrying debt. That’s the idea behind debt relief programs.

You have various debt relief options to explore:

• Debt settlement: Ask creditors to accept less than the full amount. Start when you’re genuinely struggling financially. Most creditors and collectors work with consumers because settling beats going to court.
• Credit counseling: Counselors help manage debt by assessing finances, creating budgets, and building savings. Some ask creditors to waive fees, modify repayment plans, and reduce interest rates.
• Debt consolidation: Pay off multiple debts with one new debt. Find a loan with lower interest, pay off other debts, and manage one easy payment. Pay this off before terms end or you’ll face more expensive debt.

Some programs help struggling consumers meet basic needs. Examples include Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP), and Supplement Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

Wyoming Court Case Search

Wyoming lets residents access court records by visiting the courthouse.

Use public terminals to view and copy your cases. Online access exists only for Supreme Court appeals.

Understand the court structure before accessing case records:

• Supreme Court: Highest state court, hears District Court appeals
• District Court: Hears civil cases up to $50,000, accepts Circuit Court appeals
• Circuit Court: 23 courts in all counties handle civil cases up to $50,000 and small claims up to $6,000

Your debt collection case is likely in your county’s Circuit Court under Small Claims Division. Appeals go to District Court with jurisdiction in your county.

Use your case number for easiest access. The number is unique to you and combines case type, filing year, and chronological filing number.

Visit the courthouse where the case was filed. Here’s a link to the court directory for exact locations.

At the courthouse, find terminals where you can search by name. Enter your name and the creditor’s name for your case number. Enter the case number for complete records.

You may pay a small copying fee.

For Supreme Court appeals, search online in the Public Docket Tool. Enter your case number, case title and type, and docketing dates for immediate results.

Stop Wage Garnishment in Wyoming

Understanding protection laws is the first step to stopping wage garnishment.

Wyoming Statutes §1-15-401 to 425 outline what creditors must do when seeking wage garnishment.

They can only garnish if you make more than thirty times minimum wage per week ($7.25/hr). They can take a maximum of 25% of disposable earnings.

They must notify you and your employer before garnishing begins.

You can stop wage garnishment by:

• Objecting to garnishment: Object if the debt was incorrect, 50% of earnings support your household, or wages fall under public assistance. After filing, the court reviews and may hold a hearing. The judge decides whether to adjust or stop garnishment.
• Filing for exemption: File if income comes from protected government benefits, disability forces you to use income for medical care, income falls below federal poverty line, or income doesn’t support dependents.
• Filing for bankruptcy: If other methods fail, bankruptcy may save the day. It marks your credit report for ten years but offers a fresh start with better financial management.

Consider debt settlement if you have money set aside. Maintaining garnishment orders is time-consuming and resource-draining. Creditors may welcome a lump sum offer and withdraw the order.

Debt Collection Laws in Wyoming

Wyoming protects consumers with state-specific debt collection laws.

Wyoming Statutes 33-11-101 through 33-11-116 outline these protections.

Key guidelines include:

• Debt collectors must keep accurate records including payments you’ve made
• Debt collectors must verify debt after receiving a Debt Validation Letter
• Debt collectors can only collect the exact amount owed plus legal fees and court costs
• WY Stat § 33-11-115 states collectors operating without valid licenses face $750 fines or six months jail

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) supports Wyoming’s efforts.

Debt collectors cannot:

• Contact you at work if your employer prohibits such calls
• Call late at night or very early morning
• Inform family, coworkers, or friends about your debt
• Threaten to confiscate crucial documents
• Use abusive or obscene language
• Call endlessly to annoy you
• Falsify information regarding your debt

Wyoming permits collectors to call people you know about your whereabouts. But they must be careful what they ask.

They cannot tell the person about the debt, call several times unless confirming information, or use language indicating debt collection.

Prevent such encounters by responding to creditors. Use a Debt Validation Letter to stop their calls or settle debt with our partner Solo.

Wyoming Legal Aid Organizations

Free legal services exist in every state.

Organizations assist citizens who cannot afford legal help. In Wyoming, state legal aid organizations include:

Legal Aid of Wyoming Incorporation

• Non-profit federally funded law firm
• Open 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday
• Phone: (877) 432-9955

Teton County Access to Justice Center

• Self-help legal resource center offering reference assistance and legal resources
• Open 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday in downtown Jackson
• Address: 185 South Willow St., Jackson, WY 83002
• Phone: (307) 734-9023

Wyoming State Court Locations

Find your local court’s address and contact information on the Wyoming Judicial Branch website.

Major court locations include:

• Circuit Court, Fifth Judicial District, Park County
• Circuit Court, Third Judicial District, Uinta County (Evanston)
• Fourth Judicial District Court, Johnson County
• Circuit Court, First Judicial District, Laramie County
• Circuit Court, Third Judicial District, Sweetwater County
• Wyoming Seventh Circuit Judicial District, Natrona County
• Circuit Court, Sixth Judicial District, Campbell County
• Circuit Court, Second Judicial District, Carbon County
• Circuit Court, Second Judicial District, Albany County
• Circuit Court, Fifth Judicial District, Hot Springs County
• Circuit Court, Eighth Judicial District, Converse County
• Circuit Court, Fourth Judicial District, Sheridan County
• Circuit Court, Ninth Judicial District, Fremont County
• Circuit Court, Third Judicial District, Lincoln County
• Circuit Court, Ninth Judicial District, Teton County