What is a Motion for Default Judgment? Imagine you've taken someone to court, but they've ignored all proceedings. A motion for default judgment allows you to ask the court to automatically decide in your favor due to the other party's lack of response or action.
If you do not think the default judgment was appropriately entered against you, you must file a motion with the court asking the judge to “set aside” (void or nullify) the judgment. If the judge grants your motion, the case starts back up again.
To vacate a default, your motion papers must show a good reason or excuse for your default and that your claims or defenses have legal merit. Whenever a motion is to be brought, the person filing the motion is called the moving party or the movant.
A motion is an application to the court made by the prosecutor or defense attorney, requesting that the court make a decision on a certain issue before the trial begins. The motion can affect the trial, courtroom, defendants, evidence, or testimony. Only judges decide the outcome of motions.
If the defendant has a valid reason for not responding, such as never being notified, they may file a motion asking the judge to set aside the default judgment. This is also called a motion for relief from default or a motion to vacate judgment.
In other words, an appeal asks a higher court to review the decision, and a Motion to Vacate asks the lower court to reconsider the case.
To vacate a default, your motion papers must show a good reason or excuse for your default and that your claims or defenses have legal merit. Whenever a motion is to be brought, the person filing the motion is called the moving party or the movant.
If default judgment has been entered incorrectly then the court will set it aside, although an application will usually need to be made.
To vacate a default judgment you should fill out an Order to Show Cause. An Order to Show Cause is a legal paper, signed by the judge, that orders the other side to appear in court and "show cause," that is, give a good reason, why the judgment should not be vacated.
For that purpose the judgment debtor should approach the plaintiff/judgment creditor or his/her/its attorney to obtain the written consent to rescission of judgment. There is however no requirement in law that obliges a plaintiff/judgment creditor to give a consent to rescission of judgment.