Code of Civil Procedure Article 267

The defendant shall, if he/she considers it necessary to do so, submit his/her answer to the court, with a written copy or photocopy thereof sent directly to the plaintiff within ten days after receiving the complaint, and no later than five days prior to the oral-argument session if one has been designated.Where any matter which should be notified to the opposing party in preparation of the case is not indicated in the complaint or answer, the parties shall submit to the court a preparatory pleading indicating such matter with a written copy or photocopy thereof sent directly to the opposing party within the period which the opposing party needs to prepare for such matter, and no later than five days prior to the oral-argument session if one has been designated.The parties shall submit to the court the preparatory pleading, if any, to dispute or respond to the matters indicated in the pleadings provided in the two preceding paragraphs with a written copy or photocopy thereof sent directly to the opposing party within five days after receiving such pleadings as provided in the two preceding paragraphs, and no later than three days prior to the oral-argument session if one has been designated.