contestació

Contestació is a Catalan noun meaning an answer or reply. In general usage it denotes the act of replying to a question, challenge, or inquiry. In legal language, contestació refers specifically to the document through which a defendant responds to a civil claim or accusation, outlining defenses and position in the case.

Etymology and usage: the term derives from Latin contestatio and the verb contestar, and is related to the Spanish contestación. It is used in Catalan to describe both the act of answering and the formal written document filed in civil or administrative proceedings. It contrasts with “resposta” (a general answer) and with admissions of facts; contestació often organizes a legal argument in a structured format.

Legal context: in civil procedure in Catalan-speaking jurisdictions, the contestació is the defendant’s formal response to the plaintiff’s demand. It is typically submitted within a legally prescribed period. The document usually contains admissions or denials of specific facts, a presentation of defenses, and the legal grounds supporting them. It may also include counterclaims, requests for evidence, and prayers for relief or dismissal.

Structure and content: while the exact form varies by jurisdiction, a contestació generally identifies the parties, lists contested facts, states which facts are admitted or denied, presents defenses and applicable laws, and may propose admissible evidence or requests. The document is signed by the defendant or their legal representative.

See also: contestació judicial, dret processal, resposa, demanda.