# How to fill out UD-105, Answer, Unlawful Detainer (California) > UD-105 Rev. Jan 1, 2026 explained: general vs specific denial, defenses and item 3t, MC-025, item 7, verification, filing and the 10-court-day deadline. Not legal advice. **Direct answer.** UD-105, Answer, Unlawful Detainer, is the Judicial Council answer form. You name each defendant (item 1), choose a general or specific denial (item 2), check any defenses and state brief facts for each in item 3t (item 3), add other statements and requests (items 4 to 5), complete item 7, sign, and verify. Other responses exist; a self-help center can explain them. It is due within 10 court days of service. ## UD-105 items at a glance (Rev. January 1, 2026) This guide quotes the Judicial Council form; it does not choose defenses for you. ## Before you start: your deadline You generally have 10 court days after service to file a written response, not counting Saturdays, Sundays, or court holidays (CCP § 1167). If service is completed by mail or in person through the Secretary of State’s address confidentiality program (Safe at Home), CCP § 1167(b) gives five additional court days to file a response, not merely because you are enrolled in Safe at Home. Use our eviction deadline counter to estimate your date. ## The caption Copy the court name, plaintiff, defendant, and case number from the summons and complaint. Upload papers to /understand if you need help finding them. ## Item 1: Who is answering Every defendant named must sign unless an attorney signs for them. ## Item 2: General denial or specific denials (pick one) The form says check only one box. Item 2a is General Denial, with the form’s warning: "Do not check this box if the complaint demands more than $1,000." Item 2b is Specific Denials: list false statements and paragraphs where you lack information or belief, using complaint paragraph numbers; use MC-025 Attachment 2b(1) or 2b(2) for more room. ## Item 3: Defenses and objections The form lists defenses 3a through 3s with labels such as habitability (nonpayment only), retaliation, local rent control, Tenant Protection Act (Civil Code sections 1946.2 or 1947.12), abuse or violence-based eviction (3k), and others. For each box checked, the form says you must state brief facts in item 3t. This guide quotes the form; it does not tell you which boxes fit your situation. Item 3k lists documentation types when an eviction is based on abuse against the tenant or household. Survivors who need a restraining order can see our California DVRO start-to-finish page. ## Item 3t and MC-025 Title extra pages "Attachment 3t" or use MC-025. The form says to state brief facts supporting each defense checked. ## Items 4 to 6 Item 4 covers other statements such as a vacated date or fair rental value. Item 5 lists requests including repairs or rent reduction tied to habitability (5d). Item 6 is the page count for attachments. ## Item 7: Unlawful detainer assistant Item 7 must be completed in all cases. It asks whether a paid unlawful detainer assistant helped for compensation (B&P Code § 6400). JusticeOS is not an unlawful detainer assistant and does not prepare UD-105 today. ## Sign, verify, file, and serve Each defendant signs and verifies under penalty of perjury. File with the court on the summons and have a copy served on the plaintiff. There is a filing fee; you can request a fee waiver with FW-001. ## How JusticeOS helps today Free tools count your deadline and explain court papers. UD-105 preparation is not available yet. ## Questions people ask next ### What is UD-105? The Judicial Council Answer, Unlawful Detainer form used to respond to an eviction lawsuit in California. It is an optional form. ### When is my answer due? Within 10 court days after service (CCP § 1167), plus five additional court days under CCP § 1167(b) only when service was completed by mail or in person through the Secretary of State’s Safe at Home address confidentiality program. ### General denial or specific denials? The form says check only one, and not to check general denial if the complaint demands more than $1,000. ### Do I have to explain the defenses I check? Yes. The form says to state brief facts for each box checked in item 3t or on MC-025. ### What is item 7? A required disclosure of whether a paid unlawful detainer assistant helped with the form. ### Is there a filing fee? Yes; you can request a fee waiver with FW-001. ### Can JusticeOS fill out UD-105 for me? Not today. Our free tools count your deadline and explain your court papers. ### Where can I get free help? lawhelpca.org and your court’s self-help center. ## Official sources - [Judicial Council UD-105 (Rev. Jan 1, 2026)](https://courts.ca.gov/sites/default/files/courts/default/2024-11/ud105.pdf) - [Judicial Council MC-025](https://courts.ca.gov/sites/default/files/courts/default/2024-11/mc025.pdf) - [Judicial Council SUM-130 (Rev. Jan 1, 2026)](https://courts.ca.gov/sites/default/files/courts/default/2024-11/sum130.pdf) - [CCP § 1167 (including Safe at Home, subdivision (b))](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=CCP§ionNum=1167) - [California Courts: Respond to an eviction](https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/eviction-tenant/respond) - [FW-001 fee waiver](https://courts.ca.gov/sites/default/files/courts/default/2024-11/fw001.pdf) ## Related guides - [Can you fill out California court forms on a computer and print them?](https://justiceos.ai/guides/printed-court-forms) Published 2026-10-13. Reviewed against official California Courts guidance on 2026-10-13. --- JusticeOS is not a law firm, is not your lawyer, and does not give legal advice. It explains California court forms and procedure in plain language and cites official sources. In immediate danger call 911. National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233. Canonical HTML: https://justiceos.ai/guides/ud-105