Default Judgment
Written By Fresh Starts Registry
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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Divorce Dictionary