在我国民事答辩状包括首部、答辩理由和结尾三个部分：
1． 首部。
写明下列事项：标题写“民事答辩状”；答辩人的基本情况。 列答辩人姓名，性别，年龄，民族，籍贯，职业或职务，单位或住址；答辩事由。具体行文为：“因某某一案，提出答辩如下：”下面转入正文。也可以这样行文：“答辩人于某年某月某日收到某某人民法院交来原告因某某一案的起诉状，现答辩如下。”
2．答辩理由
答辩状的内容没有统一的规定，要根据原告的诉状内容来确定。除被告愿意承认原告的诉讼请求外，答辩状的理由部分要针对原告在诉状中提出的事实和理由进行答辩，并可提出相反的事实、证据和理由，证明自己的理由和观点是正确的。
3. 写完答辩理由后，另行写“此致”，再另一行写“某某人民法院”。由答辩人签名盖章，注明年月日。
英美国家民事答辩状的格式和主要内容与我国的民事答辩状相似。下面分别是一例国内的民事答辩状和一例美国的民事答辩状。关于民事答辩状的翻译，可参见民事答辩状的翻译要点一文。
答辩状
ANSWER TO COMPLAINT
答辩人：××人民医院
住址：××市××路七号
Respondent： ××× People’s Hospital
Address： No 7, ××Road, ×× City
因×××要求×××人民医院人身损害赔偿一案，现提出答辩意见如下：
The following answer is hereby given to the claim of ××× for compensation by the ××× People’s Hospital for personal injuries：
1．答辩人与×××之间不存在直接的合同关系，答辩人1998年6月10日与××第二建筑安装工程公司订立了一份口头合同，由××第二建筑安装工程公司负责把答辩人的一个高压电表柜拆除，×××是受××第二建筑安装工程公司的委托来拆除高压电表柜的，与答辩人之间不存在直接合同关系。
1. The respondent does not have a direct contractual relationship with ×××. The respondent entered into an oral contract with ×× No 2 Construction and Installation Company on June 10, 1998, whereby ×× No 2 Construction and Installation Company shall be responsible for removing the high-voltage meter cabinet. ××× was engaged in removing the high-voltage meter cabinet as entrusted by ×× No 2 Construction and Installation Company and therefore has no direct contractual relationship with the respondent.
2．××的伤害赔偿应由××二建筑安装工程公司负责，其一，根据我国法律和有关司法解释规定，××第二建筑安装工程公司对其职工在履行合同的范围内所受到伤害应负责任，× ××的伤害并不是由于合同客体以外的事物造成的。其三，受××第二建筑安装工程公司委 托的×××在拆除高压电表柜的过程中，存在着严重违反操作程序的行为，未尽一个电工应尽的注意。
2. The liabilities for compensating ×× for the damage shall be born by ×× No 2 Construction and Installation Company for the following reasons. Firstly, pursuant to PRC laws and relevant judicial interpretations, ×× No 2 Construction and Installation Company shall be liable for any injuries suffered by its employees to the extent of the contract performance. The injuries of ××× was not caused by anything other than the object of the contract. Thirdly, ×××, who was entrusted by ×× No 2 Construction and Installation Company, seriously violated the operational procedure in removing the high-voltage meter cabinet and failed to pay due attention thereto.
3．答辩人对×××伤害赔偿不应承担责任。根据我国《民法通则》的规定，从事高度危险作业的人致他人损害的，应负赔偿责任。而本案中答辩人与××第二建筑安装工程公司订有合同，高度危险来源已通过合同合法地转移给 ××第二建筑安装工程公司。××第二建筑安装工程公司成为该危险作业物的主体，××在操作过程中受到伤害，这是××第二建筑安装工程公司在履行合同过程中，合同客体造成自己员工的伤害行为，与答辩人无关。
3. The respondent shall not be liable for compensating the injuries of ×××. In accordance with the General Principles of the Civil Law, any person engaged in highly dangerous operation shall be liable for compensation in the event of any damages. In this case, however, the respondent entered into a contract with ×× No 2 Construction and Installation Company, whereby the source of high danger shifted to ×× No 2 Construction and Installation Company legitimately. ×× No 2 Construction and Installation Company became the subject of the dangerous operation, and therefore any damages caused in the contract performance by ×× No 2 Construction and Installation Company has no connection with the respondent.
综上所述，×××人民医院为不适合被告，请贵院依法驳回原告起诉。
By reason of the foregoing, ××× People’s Hospital is not legible for becoming the defendant. We hereby request the court to reject the plaintiff’s action according to law.
此致
××市中级人民法院
To：
×× City Intermediate People’s Court
答辩人：×××人民医院
Respondent： ××× People’s Court
日期：
Date：
英美国家民事答辩状的格式和主要内容与我国的民事答辩状相似。
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT
科克县巡回法院伊利诺县分庭
INDEPENDENT TRUST CORP. Plaintiff, 原告 VS. LAURENCE W. CAPRIOTTI, et al., Defendants 被告
No. 00 CH08270 案件编号
ANSWER TO COMPLAINT 答辩状
NOW COMES the Defendant, ___, by and through his attorney, ___, and for his Answer to the Complaint of the Plaintiff, states as follows:
被告**现到庭，通过其律师就原告的诉称作出如下答辩：
1. The Defendant invokes his Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination as to each and every allegation contained in Paragraphs 1 through 75 inclusive.
被告援引美国联邦宪法第五修正案规定的“不自证其罪权”对抗原告在其起诉状中第一至第七十五段所包含的每一种诉称。
2. As to Count I, the Defendant makes no answer, as the allegation in Court I are not directed towards Defendant.
对于原告在起诉状中的第一项案由，被告不做任何答辩，因为原告起诉状中的第一项案由并未直接针对原告。
3. As to Count II, the Defendant invokes his Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination as to each and every allegation contained in Court II.
被告援引美国联邦宪法第五修正案规定的“不自证其罪权”对抗原告在其起诉状中第二项案由所包含的每一种诉称。
4. …
5. …
6. …
WHEREFORE, the Defendant prays that the Complaint of the Plaintiff be dismissed in its entirety and that no relief be afforded whatsoever thereunder.
由此，被告请求法院驳回原告的所有请求事项，不给予原告任何一种救济。
Respectfully submitted, 此致
By ___ 原告签名
Attorney for Defendant ___原告律师签名