Short answer
Affirmative defenses, such as the statute of limitations, payment, or a prior settlement, should be stated in your Answer. Certain other denials, such as denying the plaintiff owns the account in some cases, may need a sworn (verified) denial. Leaving them out can mean losing them.
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Updated November 2026. General information about Texas law, not legal advice for your case. Laws and court rules change; we review these answers regularly.