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<div id='Q-1' name='Q-1' style='display:none;'> If you were served the complaint more than 20 days ago and never filed an Answer you may want to create a Motion to File Late Answer.  
</div><div id='D-1.1' name='D-1.1' style='display:none;'><h1 style="text-align: center;">Instructions for Filing your Motion to File Late Answer and Your Motion</h1><p style="text-align: left;">A Motion to Allow Late Answer is how you ask the court to let you file an Answer even though you missed the deadline. An Answer gives you the chance to tell your side of the story.  It tells the judge the reasons you should win the case and the things the other side did wrong.  To learn more about Answers visit <a href="https://www.masslegalhelp.org/debtanswer."> MassLegalHelp.org </a>  <br><br>If a Judgment of Default entered in your case, file this motion with a Motion to Remove the Default.   You can get help creating the Motion to Remove the Default <a href="https://www.masslegalhelp.org/consumer/debt/court/default"> here</a>.  Use these instructions to review and file your Motion to Allow Late Answer. 
<h2 style="text-align:center;">Instructions</h2>
<p style="text-align: left;"><ol><li>	Review the motion and make sure everything it says is true and is spelled correctly. 
<li>	Your motion is on the next page.  If it is not, type 'Ctrl' + 'Enter' before the heading, COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS. 
<li> In the 'Notice of Hearing' section write the date and time of the hearing.  
<ul><li>To get a hearing date, bring your paper to the Court or call the clerk's office.  You can find the clerk’s number for your court by looking up the court house <a href="https://www.mass.gov/courts/court-info/courthouses/"> here</a> here.</li>
<li>Ask the clerk when 'Motion Day' is.</li>
<li>The court will have a day and time they hear motions every week.</li>
<li>Pick a date at least 2 weeks away and write it into the 'Notice of Hearing' section.</li>
</ul> 
<li>	Sign in 2 places: 
<ul>
<li>At the end of the motion; and, </li>
<li>In the 'Certificate of Service' section.</li>
</ul>
<li> Make a copy of your Answer and put it at the end of this motion after EXHIBIT A.	If you have not created an Answer yet, you can get help <a href="https://www.masslegalhelp.org/consumer/debt/court/answer"> here</a>
<li> By signing the Certificate of Service you are saying you <b>have or will</b> mail a copy of this motion to <x>creditor</x>'s attorney <x>attorney</x> on <x>service</x>. Make sure you do so.
<li>  Make two copies of everything.
<li>	Give the original motion to the court clerk. 
<li>	Mail a copy to the plaintiff.
<li>	Keep a copy for yourself.
<li>	Go to court on the hearing date. </ol>
<br>If you have questions, <b>talk to a lawyer at a debt clinic</b>. Clinics are held at the:
<ul><li> <b>Boston Municipal Court</b> every Wednesdays on the 5th Floor of the Edward Brooke Courthouse from 9am-12pm.
<li> <b>Quincy District Court Small Claims</b>, 2nd Floor, Tuesdays at 1:30pm.
<li> <b>Cambridge District Court, Small Claims</b>, Thursdays at 8:45am.
<li> <b>Framingham District Court</b> the first Wednesday of every month from 1pm to 3pm.
<li> <b>Worcester District Court, Small Claims</b>, Tuesdays at 8:30am.</b></ul>
<br>Your motion is on the next page.
<br><p style="text-align: center;"> COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS<br> TRIAL COURT</br></p><br><p style="text-align: left;"><x>county</x>,SS <p style="text-align: right;"><x>court</x> Court<br> Docket Number:<x>docket</x></br></p><br><p style="text-align: left;">____________________<br><x>creditor</x>,<br> Plaintiff,<br><br>V.<br></p><br><p style="text-align: left;"><x>name</x>,<br><u>Defendant.</u>___________<br><br><p style="text-align: center;"> MOTION TO ALLOW LATE ANSWER<br>
<p style="text-align: left;">NOW COMES the Defendant <x>name</x> in the above-captioned matter and respectfully moves this Honorable Court pursuant to M.R.C.P 6(b)(2) and/or (3) to allow the filing of a late answer asserting affirmative defenses and counterclaims for the following reasons:
<br>In support of this Motion, the Defendant states:
<br> 1.	Defendant does not have an attorney.
<br> 2. Defendant missed the Answer deadline for good reasons that constitute excusable neglect including <x>reason</x>.
<br> 3. Meritorious defenses and claims exist including <x>defense</x> and as set forth in the attached answer. 	
<br> 4. Plaintiff will not be substantially prejudiced by the allowance of this motion as defendant will make all efforts to expedite the resolution of this case. 
<br> 5. The court should be guided by the principle that there is a strong preference for deciding cases on the merits. 
<br> <br> WHEREFORE, the Defendant asks this court to grant this Motion to File Late Answer or any other relief that is just and proper.  This request is not intended to delay or frustrate the resolution of this controversy on the merits.
<br><p style="text-align: right;"> Respectfully submitted by the Defendant,<br><br>__________________________________<br><x>name</x> 
<br><p style="text-align: center;">Notice of Hearing
<br><p style="text-align: left;">This motion is marked for hearing  on___________at ______o'clock at the <x>court</x> Court.
<br><br><p style="text-align: center;"> CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
<br><p style="text-align: left;">I hereby certify that a true copy of this Motion to File A Late Answer was served upon the attorney of record for the Plaintiff, <x>attorney</x> by regular first class mail postage pre-paid on <x>service</x>. 
<br><br><p style="text-align: right;">_________________________________________
<br>               <x>name</x>
<br><br>This form was prepared using form preparation software without the assistance of counsel.
<br><p style="text-align: center;">EXHIBIT A
</div><div id='Q-1.1' name='Q-1.1' style='display:none;'> Great! Do you have:<ul><li> Your paperwork about the case and <li>The address for the creditor's lawyer?</ul>	
</div><div id='Q-1.1.1' name='Q-1.1.1' style='display:none;'> When are you going to mail this motion? (Month, day, year)
</div><div id='Q-1.1.1.1' name='Q-1.1.1.1' style='display:none;'> What is your first and last name?
</div><div id='Q-1.1.1.1.1' name='Q-1.1.1.1.1' style='display:none;'> Write why you did not file your answer when it was due.  <p> Do not type "I did not know it was due" type instead "Defendant did not get notice of the case."</p>
</div><div id='Q-1.1.1.1.1.1' name='Q-1.1.1.1.1.1' style='display:none;'> What is your <a href="https://www.masslegalhelp.org/consumer/debt/court/defense"> defense</a> or the reason you should win the debt collection case? <br>Look at some example defenses <a href="https://www.masslegalhelp.org/consumer/debt/court/defense"> here</a>. For example, type "Bankruptcy".
</div><div id='Q-1.1.1.1.1.1.1' name='Q-1.1.1.1.1.1.1' style='display:none;'> For the next four questions look at the top of the papers you got from the court. What is your case or docket number? 
</div><div id='Q-1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1' name='Q-1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1' style='display:none;'> What court is your case in?  It may say something like "Dorchester Division, Boston Municipal" or "Springfield Small Claims." 
</div><div id='Q-1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1' name='Q-1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1' style='display:none;'> What county is the court in?  This is probably on the top left of the paper before an "ss."
</div><div id='Q-1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1' name='Q-1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1' style='display:none;'>Who is suing you? They are called the Plaintiff.
</div><div id='Q-1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1' name='Q-1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1' style='display:none;'> What is the lawyer's name and address for the company that is suing you?
</div><div id='Q-1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1' name='Q-1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1' style='display:none;'> Do you want to see your Motion to File Late Answer? 
</div><div id='Q-1.1.2' name='Q-1.1.2' style='display:none;'> Go get your paperwork 1) about the case and 2) About the law firm that is suing you and come back here to create your Motion.
</div><div id='A-1.1' name='A-1.1' style='display:none;'> I want to create a Motion to File Late Answer
</div><div id='A-href-1.1' name='A-href-1.1' style='display:none;'>javascript:void('');</div><div id='A-target-1.1' name='A-target-1.1' style='display:none;'></div><div id='X-1.1' name='X-1.1' style='display:none;'>I want to create a Motion to File Late Answer</div><div id='A-1.1.1' name='A-1.1.1' style='display:none;'> Yes, I have it.	
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</div><div id='A-href-1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1' name='A-href-1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1' style='display:none;'>javascript:submit2('https://www.qnamarkup.org/doc/parse/html/', 'POST', 't', 'Make changes, print, sign, get a hearing date and mail.')</div><div id='A-target-1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1' name='A-target-1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1' style='display:none;'></div><div id='X-1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1' name='X-1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1' style='display:none;'>Yes. Let me see my Motion.</div><div id='A-1.1.2' name='A-1.1.2' style='display:none;'> No, I do not have it.
</div><div id='A-href-1.1.2' name='A-href-1.1.2' style='display:none;'>javascript:void('');</div><div id='A-target-1.1.2' name='A-target-1.1.2' style='display:none;'></div><div id='X-1.1.2' name='X-1.1.2' style='display:none;'>No, I do not have it.</div>
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