Courts and procedure
Default judgment
Also called default
A judgment entered for the side that filed the case because the other side didn't answer or appear.[1]
In more detail
In California divorces, if the other spouse doesn't file a response, the case can go ahead by default, and spouses can also use a default with a written agreement.[2]
Varies by state
This is the federal courts' definition; state courts use the word the same way, though procedures differ by state. Find your state’s rules.
Related terms
- AnswerThe defendant's formal written response to a complaint, setting out the grounds for their defense.
- RespondentThe person who responds to a petition, such as the spouse who receives divorce papers.
- JudgmentThe court's official decision that finally resolves the dispute between the parties.
- Uncontested divorceA divorce in which the spouses agree on all the issues, such as property, support and children, so a judge doesn't have to decide them.
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Sources
The official documents this definition is based on, with the date we last read each one. Definitions are in our own words.
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MediationList. (2026, October 28). Default judgment: Definition. https://mediationlist.com/glossary/default-judgment/
APA 7th ed. A retrieval date is included only for pages whose content changes, such as maps, data and tools.