Legal Question in Credit and Debt Law in California

If the court clerk has already entered your default, they will not accept your answer for filing. You would need to either get a stipulation form the opposing attorney or bring a proper motion before the judge to get the default set aside first.

In addition to what my colleague has stated, if the clerk has not yet entered the default, you may rush to the courthouse and file your answer to the complaint, and have someone else sign the proof of service and mail a copy to the plaintiff's attorney.