Default Judgment

Pronounced: DEE-fawlt JUHJ-ment


What it means: If your ex doesn’t respond to the divorce papers by the deadline, the judge can move forward without them and make decisions based only on your side. That’s called a default judgment.

Example: “My ex never filed an answer, so the judge gave me a default judgment.”

When it's used: After papers are served and no response is filed.

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Decree (or Final Decree of Divorce)