How to File a Answer to Summons

[jlarbey]

My question involves divorce in the State of: MO

My wife recently filed for divorce and I was served about a week ago. Do I have 30 days from the day I received the papers or 30 days from the date of filing to respond? Also, I do not want to hire and attorney although she has. Does anyone have an example of an answer to a divorce summons they could send to me? I have directions on how to file an answer, but no examples to go off of. We have only been married 6 months and we have little to nothing to "split up" in form of property. I have no idea why she has hired an attorney. I am against the divorce and want to stall for as long as I can without contesting the divorce. Do I have any rights to "extend" the period between filing and an answer?

Thanks

[Mr. Knowitall]

I would expect that the summons gives you instruction on the timing of your response. The time starts on the date of service.

You can search for sample pleadings through Google, or see if you can get a clerk at the courthouse to copy pleadings from another divorce file. (There will by a copying fee.) You can check the county law library or area law school library for practitioner's guides to family law to see if they include sample pleadings.

You can ask for an extension of the time to answer, but if you fail to answer without an agreement for an extension you can expect to be defaulted. Your wife probably hired a lawyer because she expects you to be difficult and to try to bog things down.