The most common basis for setting aside a default judgment is “mistake, inadvertence, surprise, or excusable neglect.” Usually, when a company defaults on a lawsuit (especially a larger company that is sued relatively often), it is not because the company is willfully ignoring the lawsuit.
Do judgments expire in Texas? Judgments awarded in Texas to a non-government creditor are generally valid for ten years but can be renewed for longer. If a judgment is not renewed, it will become dormant. A creditor can request to revive a dormant judgment to continue to try and collect the debt.
You must file a Motion to Set Aside Default Judgment and Notice of Hearing within 30 days of the date the default judgment was signed by the judge. See Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 329(b). In Justice Court, the deadline is 14 days. See Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 505.3.
Another way to have a Default Judgment Vacated is by filing a Motion to Vacate Judgment. In Texas, this must be filed within 14 days of the judgment. Essentially, in a motion to vacate, you would be giving the Court a reason to set aside the judgment and keep the lawsuit active.
The motion for default judgment and proposed default judgment are entered on the docket. From the Clerk: The plaintiff should make a written request for the clerk to enter a default judgment, and provide the clerk with an affidavit of the amount owed by the defendant and a proposed clerk's default judgment.
Do judgments expire in Texas? Judgments awarded in Texas to a non-government creditor are generally valid for ten years but can be renewed for longer. If a judgment is not renewed, it will become dormant. A creditor can request to revive a dormant judgment to continue to try and collect the debt.
In Texas, a motion for default judgment is a request made by a plaintiff when the defendant fails to respond to a civil complaint within the required time. If the defendant does not file a timely answer, the court may grant a default judgment in favor of the plaintiff.
The motion for default judgment and proposed default judgment are entered on the docket. From the Clerk: The plaintiff should make a written request for the clerk to enter a default judgment, and provide the clerk with an affidavit of the amount owed by the defendant and a proposed clerk's default judgment.