This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these messages) The examples and perspective in this article deal primarily with California and do not represent a worldwide view of the subject. You may improve this article, discuss the issue on the talk page, or create a new article, as appropriate. (March 2021) (Learn how and when to remove this message) This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Reply" legal term – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (March 2024) (Learn how and when to remove this message) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

In law, a reply is a legal document written by a party specifically replying to a responsive declaration and in some cases an answer. A reply may be written when a party or non-moving party (the party who is not requesting relief from the court) is asserting a counterclaim or the court has ordered a reply.

A reply, specifically in California, may be written, filed and served, when a party files a motion or Request for an Order, the non-moving party files a responsive declaration, then the moving-party wants to file a legal document specifically 'replying' to the responsive declaration.^[1]

It is important to keep in mind that "plaintiff" in this context may also refer to an impleaded party. So, if a defendant impleads a party, this new party is the third-party defendant and the original defendant is the third-party plaintiff. The third-party plaintiff must file a complaint on the third-party defendant, who then must answer. The court may order a reply to this third-party defendant's answer.

In California, the filing of a reply is subject to CCP 1005^[1] and the reply should be filed and served pursuant to these rules - typically five court days prior to a hearing see California CCP 1005 (b).^[1]