Vermont Affidavit for Default Judgment

Default judgments happen when you don't respond to a lawsuit often from a debt collector and a judge resolves the case without hearing your side. In effect, you're found guilty because you never entered a defense. Default judgments are sometimes called automatic judgments because of how fast they can happen.

In most cases, however, default judgment can be obtained through an administrative process, simply by filing a request with the court, and even where an application is required it can in some circumstances be made without notice to the defendant.

A very important fact you should keep in mind is that California courts do impose a timeline for seeking entry of a default judgment. Specifically, a request for entry of default must be filed within 10 days following a defendant's failure to timely file and serve a responsive pleading.

A default judgment means that the court has decided that you owe money. This a result of the person suing you in small claims court and you failed to appear at the hearing.

First, you can ask the court to set aside the default judgment and give you an opportunity to contest it. Next, you can settle the debt with the debt buyer for an amount less than what the default judgment is for. And finally you can eliminate the default judgment completely by filing for bankruptcy.

Generally, if a defendant fails to respond to a complaint you can get a default judgment after 45 days. However, the court system is very slow these days and it can take several months to get the court to issue the default judgment.

What happens next? When you file your Motion and Affidavit to Set Aside Default, you will get a hearing date and time from the court clerk. At the hearing, the judge will grant or deny the motion. If the judge grants your motion, the default or default judgment will be set aside, and the case will move forward.

After you notify the defendant of the judgment, you can begin to enforce the judgment. Your judgment might be for money, repossession, eviction, foreclosure, or any number of things. In any case, your rights at this point would be the same as if you had gone to trial and won.

Step 1: Make Sure You've Met the Requirements for a Default. Step 2: Decide How You Wish to Proceed. Step 3: Complete the Necessary Forms. Step 4: Complete Your Declaration in Support of Default Judgment. Step 5: Calculate Prejudgment Interest, if Appropriate. Step 6: Copy and Assemble Your Documents.