When you file an Answer in court, you must assert specific Affirmative Defenses under Rule 8(c) of the Rules of Civil Procedure. An affirmative defense is a legal reason why the plaintiff cannot prevail even if their basic factual claims were true. Use this tool to assess the viability of your key defenses.
Affirmative Defense Audit Checklist
How Affirmative Defenses Shift the Burden of Proof
By pleading affirmative defenses in your Answer, you force the plaintiff to prove every element of their case with admissible documentary evidence. In debt buyer cases, over 70% of claims are abandoned or settled for pennies once a pro se defendant files a verified answer asserting chain of title and hearsay objections.