Fed. R. Bankr. P. 1011

(a) WHO MAY CONTEST A PETITION. A debtor may contest an involuntary petition filed against it. In a partnership case under

Rule 1004, a nonpetitioning general partner—or a person who is alleged to be a general partner but denies the allegation—may contest the petition.

(b) DEFENSES AND OBJECTIONS; TIME TO FILE. A defense or objection to the petition must be presented as prescribed by Fed. R.

Civ. P. 12. It must be filed and served within 21 days after the summons is served. But if service is made by publication on a party

or partner who does not reside in—or cannot be found in—the

state where the court sits, the court must set the time to file and

serve the answer.

(c) EFFECT OF A MOTION. Serving a motion under Fed. R. Civ. P.

12(b) extends the time to file and serve an answer as Fed. R. Civ.

P. 12(a) permits.

(d) LIMITATION ON ASSERTING A DEBTOR’S CLAIM AGAINST A PETITIONING CREDITOR. A debtor’s answer must not assert a claim

against a petitioning creditor except to defeat the petition.

10 Rule 1012 FEDERAL RULES OF BANKRUPTCY PROCEDURE

(e) LIMIT ON PLEADINGS. No pleading other than an answer to the

petition is allowed, but the court may order a reply to an answer

and set the time for filing and service.

(f) C ORPORATE-OWNERSHIP STATEMENT. A corporation that responds to the petition must file a corporate-ownership statement

containing the information described in Rule 7007.1. The corporation must do so with its first appearance, pleading, motion, or response, or other first request to the court.

(As amended Mar. 30, 1987, eff. Aug. 1, 1987; Apr. 26, 2004, eff. Dec.

1, 2004; Apr. 23, 2008, eff. Dec. 1, 2008; Mar. 26, 2009, eff. Dec. 1, 2009;

Apr. 28, 2016, eff. Dec. 1, 2016; Apr. 2, 2024, eff. Dec. 1, 2024.)