What can I expect from a default hearing?

What can I expect from a default hearing?

A default hearing is when you come to court to tell the judge about your case and ask the judge for default judgment. When your case is called, the judge will first ask that you be sworn to tell the truth. The judge will make sure that the papers in the court file show that service of process was complete.

What happens when a defendant fails to answer a complaint?

In some cases, however, the potentially liable defendant may attempt to avoid civil liability by remaining unresponsive to your legal complaint against them, or by failing to appear for a court hearing. Assuming that service was properly made, you may request that the court enter a default judgment in your favor.

How long does a default hearing take?

How Default Hearings Differ. Ultimately, when a party is in default, the court will set the matter for a default hearing. Rather than a one-half day hearing, or even a full day hearing, the court is more prone to set the matter for a 30-minute hearing.

What if the defendant has no money?

The lawsuit is not based on whether you can pay—it is based on whether you owe the specific debt amount to that particular plaintiff. Even if you have no money, the court can decide: the creditor has won the lawsuit, and, you still owe that sum of money to that person or company.