What is a default judgment?

A default judgment is a legal ruling made by a court when a defendant fails to appear in court, or fails to formally respond to a lawsuit, in Virginia. In essence, the court grants the plaintiff the relief requested in his or her lawsuit after the defendant fails to appear or answer the allegations made against them. Default judgments are typically issued when a defendant does not appear in court on the day of the hearing, does not file an answer to the lawsuit in the allotted time, or is otherwise unresponsive. The defendant may be present in court, but if they do not contest the charges, the court will issue a default judgment in favor of the plaintiff. Default judgments can have significant implications for the defendant, as the court will generally issue the requested relief. This could include financial damages or the granting of legal rights and privileges to the plaintiff. The defendant may have no say in the court’s decision, and may face difficulty overturning the judgment due to the lack of evidence. Therefore, it is essential to respond to a lawsuit within the allotted timeframe, or else face the consequences of a default judgment.

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