Colorado · Sources read 2026-10-27 · Re-check due 2026-11-27

Served with an eviction in Colorado: the JDF 103 answer is due on the Return Date

The eviction summons (JDF 102) says you must attend the Return Date and/or file a written answer, and that the answer is due on the Return Date. The court's answer form is JDF 103. If you do neither, the summons warns the judge may enter a default judgment against you.

What the court’s own documents say

The summons says a written Answer is due on the Return Date.
“You must submit an Answer, due on the Return Date.”
— Colorado Judicial Branch - JDF 102, Eviction Summons (R: May 6, 2024)
If you neither answer nor attend the Return Date meeting, the summons warns of a default judgment.
“If you do not file a written Answer or attend the Return Date meeting, the judge will not know if you have any defenses and may enter a default judgment against you.”
— Colorado Judicial Branch - JDF 102, Eviction Summons (R: May 6, 2024)
The court's residential tenant answer form is JDF 103, revised November 1, 2024, and can be filed and served online for free (not in Denver County Court cases).
“You can submit this form to the court (file) and send it to the landlord (service) online for free at:”
— Colorado Judicial Branch - JDF 103, Eviction Answer, residential tenant (R: November 1, 2024)
Online filing of the answer is not available in Denver County Court cases.
“Note: Not available for cases in Denver County Court.”
— Colorado Judicial Branch - JDF 103, Eviction Answer, residential tenant (R: November 1, 2024)
If the defense is that the home is unlivable (form JDF 104), the tenant must pay the rent due, minus expenses, into the court registry when filing, or the tenant is in default.
“The tenant must pay into the court registry the amount of rent due (minus the expenses). If all the rent is not paid to the court at the time of filing, the tenant will be in default.”
— Colorado Judicial Branch - Residential Evictions (self-help)
The answer form includes a jury demand with a non-refundable fee, and only specific claims can be decided by a jury.
“Jury Demand. (Non-refundable fee. Only specific claims can be decided by a Jury)”
— Colorado Judicial Branch - JDF 103, Eviction Answer, residential tenant (R: November 1, 2024)
The court's hearing tips tell a defendant to label exhibits with letters, starting with A.
“If you are the Plaintiff, label your exhibits with numbers starting with 1. If you are the Defendant, label your exhibits with letters starting with A.”
— Colorado Judicial Branch - Residential Evictions (self-help)
In Colorado county civil cases filed in fiscal year 2025, which include eviction cases, the court's own report found almost every responding party had no attorney.
“the total number of responding parties in the case without representation is 96%.”
— Colorado Judicial Branch - Cases and Parties without Attorney Representation in Civil Cases, FY2025 (report date July 8, 2025; excludes Denver County Court)

Read the summons first

The summons (JDF 102) gives you a Return Date, a time and a room. It says you must attend that introductory meeting and/or file a written answer, and that depending on the outcome of the Return Date meeting the court may schedule the case for a formal trial. The summons also says you can appear by phone or video for court events.

What the answer form asks

JDF 103 walks through the reasons a landlord can give: unpaid rent, lease violations, substantial violations, ending a tenancy without fault, and general defenses. You check the defenses you plan to present and explain them in the form's Explanation section. The form says you will present your full case at trial, and it says plainly that its list of defenses is only a partial list and to check with a lawyer about which apply to you. CourtDocs does not choose defenses for anyone.

Your hearing

The court's own hearing tips say to be on time, bring your completed paperwork and your exhibits (lease, notice, emails, rent receipts, photographs), organize and label each exhibit, and bring copies for the other side and the judge. Both sides are told to focus on the facts, present exhibits and call witnesses. If the other side has a lawyer, the court warns the lawyer may object to exhibits and witnesses. That is the part of the day the answer form does not cover.

The forms are free. The hearing day is the part nobody explains.

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General information about Colorado court procedure, not legal advice, and not about your specific case. Court rules and forms change — open the linked source and confirm it still says this before you rely on it. For advice about your situation, talk to a licensed Colorado attorney. CourtDocs is not a law firm and no attorney-client relationship is created by reading this page.