Form 9A: Defence

What the 9A is

Form 9A is how a defendant responds to a Plaintiff’s Claim. It must be filed within 20 calendar days of being served — miss it and the plaintiff can note you in default and move to default judgment, at which point you are fighting to undo a judgment instead of defending a claim.

The Defence has three basic postures: dispute everything (with reasons), admit part and dispute the rest, or admit the claim and propose a payment schedule. If a payment proposal isn’t disputed by the plaintiff within 20 days, it effectively becomes the arrangement; if disputed, the clerk sets a terms-of-payment hearing.

How to fill it out

1. Respond to the story, not just the total: in numbered paragraphs, say what you agree with, what you deny, and your version — “the work was never completed; the deck failed inspection on March 3” beats “I don’t owe this.”
2. Attach your documents — the contract, photos, texts, inspection reports. The trial judge reads these packages.
3. Consider a payment proposal for any amount you genuinely owe; it can stop enforcement and show reasonableness.
4. File within 20 days (online filing is available) and serve the plaintiff.
5. If you have your own claim against the plaintiff (or someone else) arising from the same events, prepare a Defendant’s Claim (Form 10A) — it is due within 20 days after your Defence is filed.