[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/www.fight13.com\/why-you-should-never-ignore-a-foreclosure-lawsuit#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/www.fight13.com\/why-you-should-never-ignore-a-foreclosure-lawsuit","headline":"Why You Should Never Ignore a Foreclosure Lawsuit","name":"Why You Should Never Ignore a Foreclosure Lawsuit","description":"Going through the foreclosure process is something that everyone hopes they\u2019ll never have to face. The prospect of losing your home can significantly disrupt your life and dramatically impact your future and the future of those who depend on you. In the face of such hardship, it can be tempting...","datePublished":"2020-11-11","dateModified":"2025-09-19","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.fight13.com\/attorneys\/matis-h-abarbanel#Person","name":"Matis Abarbanel","url":"https:\/\/www.fight13.com\/attorneys\/matis-h-abarbanel","identifier":55,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.fight13.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/matis-abarbanel_avatar-96x96.png","url":"https:\/\/www.fight13.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/matis-abarbanel_avatar-96x96.png","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Loan Lawyers, LLC","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.fight13.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/icon-logo.png","url":"https:\/\/www.fight13.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/icon-logo.png","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.fight13.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Foreclosure-notice.png","url":"https:\/\/www.fight13.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Foreclosure-notice.png","height":627,"width":1200},"url":"https:\/\/www.fight13.com\/why-you-should-never-ignore-a-foreclosure-lawsuit","about":["Foreclosure Defense"],"wordCount":1111,"articleBody":"Going through the foreclosure process is something that everyone hopes they\u2019ll never have to face. The prospect of losing your home can significantly disrupt your life and dramatically impact your future and the future of those who depend on you.In the face of such hardship, it can be tempting to ignore a foreclosure lawsuit because facing it seems overwhelming.However, ignoring a foreclosure lawsuit won\u2019t make it go away. If anything, ignoring it minimizes your ability to do anything about it and leaves you with fewer options. Homeowners facing foreclosure shouldn\u2019t panic. Instead, they should speak to a qualified and experienced foreclosure defense attorney.The foreclosure defense, debt defense, and bankruptcy lawyers at Loan Lawyers have been fighting for Florida families for more than a decade. During that time, we\u2019ve helped thousands of clients keep their homes, reduce their debts by hundreds of thousands of dollars, and stave off bankruptcy.No matter how bad your financial situation may seem, we can provide the legal guidance you\u2019re looking for and give you the best possible chance of saving your home. To learn more about how we can help distressed homeowners, call us or visit our contact page.Here are just a few reasons to speak to a Florida foreclosure defense attorney if you\u2019re sued for foreclosure.You Can Get a Default JudgmentA foreclosure lawsuit is the second step in the Florida foreclosure process. Before you can be sued for foreclosure by your lender, they\u2019re required to send you a notice of default.In many cases, lenders will send out these notices once your mortgage payments are 30, 60, and 90 days past due. Once these notices have been sent, your lender can file a lawsuit to advance the foreclosure process. Should your lender fail to give you the required notices, you can use that as a defense to stall the foreclosure process.If you ignore a foreclosure lawsuit after you\u2019ve received a notice of default, though, you give up any chance to contest the lawsuit.There are two components to any foreclosure suit:The complaint, which outlines the lender\u2019s case against youThe summons, details your responsibility to respond to the lawsuit.If you do not respond, the judge overseeing the foreclosure case will assume the Complaint’s facts are correct and will issue a judgment that you are in default on your mortgage. A default judgment fast-tracks your foreclosure case and leaves you with fewer options to potentially save your home.You only have 20 days from the date that you are served with the lawsuit to respond to your lender, so it\u2019s essential to speak with a foreclosure defense lawyer as soon as you can.You Can Lose Defenses If a Loan Modification Is DeniedEven after your lender has filed a foreclosure suit against you, you still own your home until the foreclosure process is complete, and the bank sells the property in a foreclosure sale. Therefore, it\u2019s in your interest to keep working with your lender to see if you can get a loan modification. You can even apply for a loan modification multiple times, depending on who your lender is and your loan conditions.However, even if your lender refuses to grant you a loan modification, you still have legal options if you\u2019re sued for foreclosure. For example, if your lender does not follow the correct judicial procedures for obtaining a foreclosure judgment, you may be able to buy yourself more time or have the case thrown out entirely. But these defenses are invalid if you do not respond to the foreclosure lawsuit within the 20-day window. If you wait too long or ignore the lawsuit, the judge in your case will side with your lender and fast-track your foreclosure, as we\u2019ve previously discussed.Giving Up the Right to DiscoveryIn a civil suit, discovery is the phase of the case where both sides are allowed to look at what evidence the other party has and will be using as part of their case. This may not sound that important, but the discovery process is crucial if you want the best possible shot at keeping your home.During discovery, your lender must provide whatever evidence they have showing that they own your mortgage, that you\u2019ve fallen behind on your payments, and that they\u2019ve followed the correct procedures to obtain a foreclosure judgment.This process offers knowledgeable foreclosure defense attorneys an opportunity to poke holes in their evidence and argument. If you and your lawyer can undermine your lender\u2019s legal argument, you may be able to buy more time to sort out your finances or possibly have the case against you dismissed.If you ignore the foreclosure lawsuit, you give up the right to see what evidence your lender has against you. This will likely result in a default judgment against you and your home being foreclosed upon.Contact an Experienced Foreclosure Defense Attorney at Loan LawyersAs you can see, the foreclosure process in Florida is complicated, and the stakes are high. To give yourself the best possible chance at keeping your home, contact the compassionate and dedicated attorneys at Loan Lawyers today.Foreclosure, bankruptcy, and debt relief are the core areas of our practice, giving us more knowledge and experience than most other Florida law firms. Our foreclosure defense lawyers know the ins and outs of Florida foreclosures. We can provide high-quality legal defense for those facing the loss of their homes.\u00a0We\u2019re proud of our many success stories during our time in practice, and we\u2019ll do whatever we can to prevent you and your family from losing your home. To get started, call our office today to schedule your free initial consultation, or you can visit our contact page.About the AuthorLatest PostsMatis AbarbanelMatis Abarbanel is the founding partner and senior attorney at Loan Lawyers in South Florida. He focuses his practice on consumer rights, helping homeowners navigate issues such as foreclosure and financial hardship. Matis also brings a wealth of experience from his previous work in personal injury law. As a devout Chasidic Jew, he is committed to making a positive impact in his community and dedicates his efforts to charitable initiatives through his non-profit organization, The Center, which aids at-risk Jewish youth. Matis actively serves clients across South Florida and is passionate about empowering individuals to secure their rights and achieve a better future.When Foreclosure Errors by Lenders Lead to Legal Remedies for Homeowners in Fort LauderdaleWhat Homeowners Can Do When Loan Documents Contain Forged or Altered SignaturesUnderstanding Florida\u2019s Debt Forgiveness Programs and IRS Rules"},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Why You Should Never Ignore a Foreclosure Lawsuit","item":"https:\/\/www.fight13.com\/why-you-should-never-ignore-a-foreclosure-lawsuit#breadcrumbitem"}]}]