When must a defendant respond to a North Carolina complaint by filing an answer or motion?

• A. Within 60 days after service.
• B. Within 90 days after service.
• C. Generally within 30 days after service of the summons and complaint.
• D. Within 15 days after service.

Answer: (C)

The essential idea is that in North Carolina, a defendant must respond to a complaint by filing either an answer or a Rule 12 motion within 30 days after being served with the summons and complaint. The countdown starts when service occurs—the date you’re formally notified of the case, not when you learn about it by other means. The response serves to either admit or deny the allegations and to raise defenses; if you file a motion under Rule 12 instead, you’re challenging aspects like lack of jurisdiction or improper service rather than answering line by line. If no response is filed within that 30-day window, the plaintiff can seek a default judgment. In practice, there are routine exceptions (for example, extensions for service by mail or for court-approved extensions for good cause), but the standard deadline you’ll see most often is 30 days from service.