Short answer. Each claimant must answer within fifteen days from service of summons, setting forth their claim and serving copies on the other claimants, who may reply. A claimant who fails to plead in time may be declared in default on motion, with judgment barring any claim to the subject matter. Counterclaims, cross-claims, and third-party complaints are allowed.

What the law says

Each claimant shall file his answer setting forth his claim within fifteen days from service of the summons upon him, serving a copy thereof upon each of the other conflicting claimants who may file their reply thereto as provided by these Rules. If any claimant fails to plead within the time herein fixed, the court may, on motion, declare him in default and thereafter render judgment barring him from any claim in respect to the subject matter. The parties in an interpleader action may file counterclaims, cross-claims, third-party complaints and responsive pleadings thereto, as provided by these Rules.

Rule 62, Section 5 — Answer and other pleadings. Read the full provision →

The fifteen-day answer requirement

Rule 62, Section 5 requires every claimant to file an answer setting forth their claim within fifteen days of being served summons. Crucially, each claimant must also serve a copy of that answer on each of the other conflicting claimants, who may then file a reply — putting all the rival claims and responses directly in front of one another, not just the court.

Consequences of failing to answer

A claimant who fails to plead within the fixed period faces a real consequence: on motion, the court may declare that claimant in default and thereafter render judgment barring that claimant from any claim in respect to the subject matter. Since the whole purpose of interpleader is to resolve competing claims once and for all, a defaulting claimant effectively forfeits their chance to assert a claim to the property.

Room for counterclaims and other pleadings

The section also confirms that an interpleader action is not limited to simple answers between the claimants — the parties may file counterclaims, cross-claims, third-party complaints, and responsive pleadings to those, all as provided by the general Rules. This allows the full range of related claims among the parties to be litigated within the same interpleader proceeding, rather than forcing separate lawsuits over disputes that arise out of the same underlying property or fund.

Why default carries real teeth here

Interpleader exists specifically to force competing claimants to settle their rival claims once and for all in a single proceeding, so a claimant who ignores that proceeding cannot simply sit it out and pursue the claim later somewhere else. Barring a defaulting claimant from any claim to the subject matter gives real consequence to the fifteen-day deadline, and protects the diligent claimants and the stakeholder from being held hostage indefinitely by someone who refuses to participate.

Related provisions

Note. Statute text quoted on this page is reproduced from the official enactment and is linked to the full provision. The explanation around it is general legal information from Vivas & Nobles Law Office, not legal advice. Whether it applies to your situation depends on facts only a lawyer reviewing them can assess.